<div><p paraid="105719770" paraeid="{9f295210-d3f0-4d5b-a71b-90c41391e43a}{50}">By: Steve Markenson, Vice President, Research & Insights, FMI </p></div><div><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/pos-2025-cover-1.tmb-medium.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=aadfcf0d_1" style="float:right;margin:10px;" class="-align-right" alt="PoS 2025 Cover 1" sf-size="100" /><p paraid="1126976289" paraeid="{9f295210-d3f0-4d5b-a71b-90c41391e43a}{66}">The path to the seafood department is not as heavily traveled as it was at the height of the pandemic a few years ago. Seafood sales at retail, whether measured in units or dollars, were on a strong upward trajectory in 2020 and 2021. However, since 2022 the category has taken a step backward. Overall seafood sales increased in units in 2024 by a whole +1.0%, on par with the meat department’s unit sales growth, according to Circana. However, meat department dollar sales are up year over year (+4.7%) due to increases in meat prices, while the seafood department had a decrease in dollar sales (-1.2%) as result of lower prices. </p></div><div><p paraid="1404920068" paraeid="{9f295210-d3f0-4d5b-a71b-90c41391e43a}{192}">This year’s <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-seafood-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Power of Seafood</a> chronicles how the who, where, what and why of seafood consumption has evolved and the impact of current economic conditions, most notably inflation, on seafood consumption. </p></div><div><h5 paraid="276132148" paraeid="{9f295210-d3f0-4d5b-a71b-90c41391e43a}{245}">Seafood Is Expensive </h5></div><div><p paraid="1349798863" paraeid="{9f295210-d3f0-4d5b-a71b-90c41391e43a}{253}">In research we have a saying – “perception is reality.” Despite the reality of seafood prices, shoppers, whether they eat seafood or not, perceive seafood as expensive. However, when asked if the seafood they purchase for their family is affordable, frequent seafood consumers are likely to agree while occasional and non-seafood consumers are not as likely to agree. Frequent seafood consumers have found a way to incorporate seafood they perceive to be affordable into their family’s eating repertoire. </p></div><div><p paraid="20308437" paraeid="{d34b5b79-b1c2-48ed-a9b6-a8ae0ac5cb6b}{50}">This year’s <em>Power of Seafood</em> report also explores the idea of whether seafood is an indulgence or luxury. Regardless of the consumer’s level of seafood consumption, most consumers (66% to 67%) consider seafood to be a luxury or indulgence. While non-seafood consumers believe all seafood is a luxury or indulgence, frequent seafood consumers are likely to say that only certain seafood is a luxury or indulgence. It should be noted, at a time when consumers are looking for little luxuries or indulgences, being perceived this way is not necessarily a bad thing. </p></div><div><h5 paraid="1491838517" paraeid="{d34b5b79-b1c2-48ed-a9b6-a8ae0ac5cb6b}{116}">Seafood’s Healthy Halo </h5></div><div><p paraid="861984015" paraeid="{d34b5b79-b1c2-48ed-a9b6-a8ae0ac5cb6b}{122}">One thing that most shoppers, regardless of how often they eat seafood, agree upon is that seafood is healthy and good for them. Shoppers associate seafood with being a high-quality protein, being heart healthy and containing healthy fats, along with supporting brain and mental health. On average, they can identify an average of five health benefits from eating seafood. With consumers putting effort into eating nutritious and healthy foods, these are unique selling points that retailers should emphasize. </p></div><div><p paraid="1548222043" paraeid="{d34b5b79-b1c2-48ed-a9b6-a8ae0ac5cb6b}{168}">This health halo may in part explain the growth of seafood in the first two years of the pandemic and over the past five years. So, if we take that longer-term view over the past five years (2019 to 2024), seafood sales in units (+8.5%) and dollars (+33.6%) have seen strong growth. </p></div><div><p paraid="1614456629" paraeid="{d34b5b79-b1c2-48ed-a9b6-a8ae0ac5cb6b}{202}">This is just a sneak peek into what is covered in the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-seafood-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Power of Seafood</em></a> report. Looking for more insights about seafood cooking habits, perceptions of aquaculture, concerns about sustainability, where and how shoppers shop for seafood and so much more? The <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-seafood-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Power of Seafood</em></a> report provides plenty of data and insights on these issues and more in the seafood department. </p><p paraid="1614456629" paraeid="{d34b5b79-b1c2-48ed-a9b6-a8ae0ac5cb6b}{202}"><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-seafood-2025" class="button">Download Now</a></p></div>
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