Chicago, June 4, 2007, Business Wire – A recently-completed Technomic study of organic and natural foods sold in the foodservice channel found business characteristics very similar to those in the retail channel, signaling solid growth potential. Menu offerings with organic and natural ingredients currently represent a small percentage of overall sales, but that percentage is growing rapidly, according to Gary Karp, Executive Vice President of Technomic. Sales of organic and natural products are expected to grow at a 15 to 20 percent compounded average annual growth rate from 2007 to 2010.

“We believe that sales of organic and natural products represent a societal shift and not just a fad,” says Karp. “Consumers of organic and natural products acknowledge that they eat these products for health and wellness reasons, but also because they taste better.”

Organic and natural products are moving to the mainstream as supplies increase and become more readily available. Wade Hanson, Manager at Technomic, pointed out that the increasing number of organic and/or natural offerings being added to menus provides strong evidence of growing momentum. As organic and natural awareness and education continues to build, Hanson sees “more and more major operators incorporating these foods and beverages into their menu development plans.”  

The new study was conducted to give operators and manufacturers a general blueprint for capturing available growth in organic and natural products. To learn more, contact Gary Karp or Wade Hanson at 312-876-0004 or by e-mail at gkarp@technomic.com.

Technomic Inc. provides food and foodservice clients with the research, insights and strategic consulting support they need to enhance their business strategies, decisions and results. Its services include category and channel analyses, customer satisfaction studies, opportunity assessments, benchmarking programs and brand equity enhancement. Technomic offers clients proprietary management consulting solutions and shared-cost, common-interest research.

Source: Technomic, Inc.
Press Contact: Chris Urban, 312-506-3929 or curban@technomic.com