The specialty-foods business is growing at an exponential rate, and some supermarket retailers have added a wider assortment of specialty products across departments.
spending, account for between 38% and 52% of specialty-food sales. Moreover, these items are usually the higher-margin products sold at full price, an added perk for the retailer (see chart at right).
This supplement takes a closer look at specialty foods and answers these and other questions: What subcategories are encompassed by the umbrella term "specialty"? What's the best way to merchandise special items? What does the future hold for this category? Who is doing a good job of merchandising specialty foods?
Industry analysts, retailers and category experts were tapped to write the articles in this supplement, which is meant to present a comprehensive picture of the specialty category as it looks today.