Compared to the previous marketing year, in July 2020 – June 2021 interval, tuber sales increased in dollars by 3% but declined slightly in volume by 0.3% in three categories.
Even so, in comparison to sales recorded before the pandemic buying cycle, the July 2020 – June 2021 vending interval shows an increase in value and volume. The buyers acquired 577 million more pounds of potatoes from July 2020 – June 2021 than July 2018 – June 2019.
Actually, according to a report whose figures have been compiled by IRI, refrigerated potatoes had a significant increase compared to the same period the previous year of 10.6% growth in dollars and a 5.3% increase in volume.
Frozen potatoes kept a stronghold on sales, with dollar and volume sales increasing by 6.3% and 4.6%, respectively, even with an increase in overall average pricing, wrote the Potato USA’s expert, citing the IRI report.
Deli-prepared sides increased compared to the same period in 2019 and 2020 but have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Chips and fresh potatoes – the most important volume driving categories -, increased in dollar sales but both fell in volume by 1.8%.
The decline in fresh product sales was largely impacted by a decline in russet sales, which fell by 3% in dollars and 3.4% in volume. Russets make up 60% of the volume share of fresh sales.
The second largest fresh category, red potatoes, also fell in dollars by 3.1% and volume by 1.9%. However, yellow potatoes increased by 9.7% and volume by 7%. Additionally, petite and medley potatoes increased by double-digits in value and volume.
One through four-pound bags of potatoes were the only pack sizes that grew with an 11.5% increase in dollars and a 7.4% increase in volume.
