Healthful Focus May Turn Around Declining Cracker Sales
October 1, 2005
Despite the fact that suppliers continue to roll out new flavors, shapes and line extensions to excite the mature $3.5-billion cracker category, Mintel International reports that sales have declined ten percent in constant dollars between 1999 and 2004.

Soy-Based Food and Drink Growth Slows
September 1, 2005
Consumers are losing enthusiasm for soy-based foods and drinks, according to Mintel International. Though the market continues to increase, it is at a slower pace than in recent years: between 2003 and 2004, sales were up 6 percent versus a 17 percent jump from 2001 to 2002.

Bite-Sized Treats and Expanded Channels Shift Premium Chocolate Sales
June 23, 2005


Cooking Sauces and Marinades:Lack of Cooking Skills May Boost Sales
May 10, 2005
Ready-made cooking sauces and marinades have the potential to flourish as convenience items for time-pressed consumers. Yet, the category has remained flat. Data from Mintel International shows that the $1.7-billion cooking sauce and marinade market in total posted a 2 percent drop in constant dollar sales from 1999 to 2004.

Confidence in Organics Soars
February 21, 2005
Food safety fears and health concerns boosted organic food sales to $5.3 billion in 2004, reports Mintel International. Organic products now comprise 1.9 percent of total U.S. food sales and are expected to continue gaining at an inflation-adjusted rate of 16.5 percent annually from 2004 through 2009.

Bars, Snacks and Yogurt Lure Functional Foods Consumers
January 17, 2005
According to research from Mintel International, the functional foods market—defined as foods and beverages with added ingredients or processing that allows manufacturers to make a specific health claim—will surpass $10.4 billion in sales for 2004, up from $8.9 billion in 1999. Long-term attitudinal changes toward diet and lifestyle among Americans drive product demand, though sales potential has been somewhat hampered by some consumer skepticism.

Health Benefits Boost Nuts and Dried Fruit Sales
October 27, 2004
The $3.2-billion nuts and dried fruit market is primed to benefit from a number of U.S. lifestyle trends, according to Mintel International.

New Flavors and Portability Rouse Stagnant Soup Category
September 3, 2004
According to Mintel Internation-al’s “U.S. Soup Market” report, sales have remained relatively flat in the nearly $4-billion soup category, decreasing about 1.6 percent in constant dollars between 1998 and 2003. An additional 2 percent decline is predicted by 2008.

Trends in Healthy Snacks
July 6, 2004
In the past five years, the healthy snack segment has risen 41 percent to an estimated $5.5 billion in 2003, according to a report by Mintel International. Consumers fighting obesity, advancing years, and concerns about heart disease—as well as those actively seeking more all-natural ingredients and organic products—are prime targets for healthy snacking products.

Artisan Loaves and Health Benefits Grow U.S. Bread Market
June 11, 2004
Sprouting an 18 percent gain, specialty or artisan bread was the fastest growing segment over the past two years in the $16-billion U.S. bread market, according to a recent Mintel International report. Overall, bread recorded a slight sales growth of 4.9 percent from 2001 to 2003. A mature category with near total market penetration, future growth in bread sales will only result from an increase in multiple purchases and varieties.

Convenience and Health Spur Salad and Dressing Sales
April 29, 2004
Consumers’ desire for good nutrition without sacrificing convenience has led to a dramatic jump in the bagged salad and a less dramatic increase in the salad dressing market. According to a recent Mintel International report, sales hit $5 billion in 2003, an increase of 28 percent in constant 2003 dollars over 2001.

Ingredient Trends in New Product Launches
March 1, 2004
Health and aging concerns and alarming rises in obesity and diabetes continue to drive consumers to seek low-sugar and fortified food and beverage options. According to data compiled by Mintel International Group in December 2003, there has been significant new product activity in three ingredient trends—Vitamins and Minerals, Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Herbal Ingredients.

Cookie Trends
January 12, 2004
According to data compiled by Mintel in August 2003, the U.S. cookie and cookie bar market is estimated at $5.1 billion for 2003 and is expected to grow 9 percent by 2008. Growth will be stimulated primarily in the cookie bar segment, which comprises about 9 percent of sales; this relatively new segment will increase by 28 percent over the next five years. Cookies, accounting for 91 percent of the market, are slated for a slower rise—4 percent through 2008. A mature market, cookies will need to seek growth through new product introductions aimed at audiences beyond the traditional core market of children ages 11 and under—a population set to decline over the next several years.