U.S. Market for Fish and Seafood, with a Focus on Fresh

An increasingly health-conscious public eager for heart healthy 'happy fat' and low calorie meals has made seafood one of the fastest-growing food categories. The United States represents one of the most important seafood markets in the world, both from a consumption and catch perspective.

Many factors are influencing the growth and direction of the seafood market, not the least of which include a push toward sustainability in the production and retailing of fresh seafood and shellfish and an effort by the industry to educate consumers on the safety of seafood products and the ease of cooking and preparation.

U.S. Market for Seafood, with a Focus on Fresh, a new report from Packaged Facts, provides an in-depth look at the $20 billion U.S. seafood industry with an emphasis on the largest segment, fresh fish and shellfish. The report tracks key trends affecting U.S. seafood supply and demand, and provides a comprehensive analysis of the main driving forces within the U.S. seafood industry, including the import/export supply chain, consumer attitudes and emerging public opinion, competitor analysis, environmental data. Using various sources, we also evaluate the state of the market and offer likely developments and future trends.

• U.S. Market for Seafood, with a Focus on Fresh makes important predictions and recommendations regarding the future of the seafood industry, and pinpoints ways current and prospective market participants can capitalize on current trends and spearhead new ones. No other market research report provides both the comprehensive analysis and extensive data that this study offers across following segments: The Products.
• The Market (including market size, composition, projected market growth, future trends, and international perspective).
• The Marketers (market structure plus detailed marketer and brand shares).
• Sales and Distribution Channels (extensive discussion of foodservice and retail venues).
• Marketing and New Product Trends (e.g., foodservice/retail cross-over and number of product launches by trend/type).
• The Consumer (demographics, attitudes and lifestyle trends).
• The report includes extensive information from several sources-including many interviews with key industry representatives - as well as dozens of practical, easy-to-read charts, tables and graphs, all of which are thoroughly examined in light of the many dynamic trends at play in this rapidly shifting market.

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• Chapter 1: Executive Summary
• Scope of Report
• Report Methodology
• The U.S. Seafood Market
• Fresh and Frozen Seafood Accounts for 77% of Fishery Products
  • Table 1-1: U.S. Annual Per Capita Consumption of Commercial Fish and Shellfish, 1997-2007
• Filet and Steaks Consumption Flat; Breaded Fish Reverses Decline
  • Table 1-2: Production of Value-Added Fish Products, in Thousand Pounds 2002-2007
• Reduction in Restaurant Traffic Reduces Seafood Consumption
• Average Consumer Makes Four Trips a Year to the Seafood Department
• Factors That Increase Seafood Consumption
• Health Benefits of Seafood Encourages Consumption
• Aquaculture May Lower Prices and Increase Availability
• Country of Origin Labeling May Assure Consumers of Safety
• Barriers to Seafood Consumption
• Food Safety Concerns Keep Some Americans From Seafood
• Consumers Not Educated in Seafood Preparation
• Most Popular Species of Fresh Seafood
  • Table 1-3: Top Ten Species by Annual Consumption (in pounds, per person) 2003-2007
• Sustainability
• Economic Downturn Affecting Seafood Consumption
  • Table 1-4: U.S. Annual Per Capita Consumption of Fish And Shellfish (in pounds), 2003-2007 (actual), 2008-2012 (estimated)
• The Consumer
• One Third of Consumers Never Buy Fresh Seafood
• Northeastern and Pacific Urban Dwellers Consume More Fresh Seafood
• Typical Fresh Seafood Consumers are Middle Aged, Affluent, and Married
• Fresh Seafood Consumers are Health Conscious
  • Table 1-5: Health Attitudes for Seafood, Hamburger, and Chicken Consumers
• Retail Trends
• Supermarket Sales of Seafood Up Slightly in 2007
• Slightly Fewer Supermarkets Offering Fresh Seafood
• Frozen Seafood Sales Slowed in 2008
  • Table 1-6: Frozen Seafood Sales, 2008 vs. 2007
• More Than Half of Seafood Consumers Shop at Wal-Mart
• Foodservice Seafood Trends
• Red Lobster Leads Seafood Restaurant Chain Sales
• Seafood Chains Hit Hard By Consumer Spending Decreases
• Top Seafood Foodservice Distributors
• Red Chamber and Trident Seafoods are Top Seafood Companies ..
• Imports and Exports
• Imports
• Seafood Imports Were a Record $13.7 Billion in 2007
  • Table 1-7: Edible Fishery Products Imports 2003-2007
• Exports
• U.S. Exports More than 80 Percent of Catches
  • Table 1-8: Edible Fishery Products Exports 2003-2007
• Domestic Seafood Production
• Pacific Coast Dominates U.S. Fishery Landings
• Trends and Opportunities
• Better-for-you Products
• Prepared Seafood Dishes For Convenience
• Increasing Consumer Demand for Eco Labeling and Health Information
• Supermarkets Will Be Eateries
• Asian and Hispanic Population Growth May Boost Seafood Consumption
• Maturing Baby Boomers Drive Growth in Seafood
• Chapter 2: The Market
• Highlights
• Market Overview
• Market Size of Seafood in the United States
• Seafood Consumption Declined Slightly in 2007
  • Table 2-1: U.S. Annual Per Capita Consumption of Commercial Fish and Shellfish, 1997-2007
• Seafood Consumption Far Less Than Other Protein Sources
  • Figure 2-1: Average U.S. Protein Consumption, 2000-2007
• Fresh and Frozen Seafood Accounts for 77% of Fishery Products
  • Table 2-2: Value of Fishery Products, 2003-2007
• Consumer Spending on Meat, Poultry, Fish and Eggs
  • Table 2-3: Average Annual Consumer Food Expenditures: Total vs. Meats, Poultry, Fish and Eggs, 2002-2006 (in dollars)
• Consumption of Filets and Steaks Rising
  • Table 2-4: Per Capita Consumption of Filets and Steaks, and Sticks and Portions 2000-2007
• Production of Fish Sticks and Portions Up (Temporarily), Breaded Shrimp Down
  • Table 2-5: Production of Value-Added Fish Products, in Thousand Pounds 2002-2007
• Grocery Seafood Sales Grow Slower Than Other Items
  • Table 2-6: Changes in Grocery Item Sales - October 2008 vs. October 2007 .
• Seventy Percent of Seafood Consumed in Restaurants
• Consumers Cut Back on Eating Out
• Average Consumer Makes Four Trips a Year to the Seafood Department
• Alaska Pollock is Most Valuable Seafood Fillet
  • Table 2-7: Production of Top 10 Fresh and Frozen Fillets by Species, 2003-2007
• Canned Product Prices and Supply Remain Steady
  • Table 2-8: U.S. Production of Canned Fishery Products, 2006 and 2007
• Market Drivers in Seafood Consumption
• Growing Awareness of Health Benefits
• The Japanese Factor
• What About Fish Oil Supplements?
• Lent is Christmas for the Seafood Industry
• Aquaculture May Lower Prices and Increase Availability
  • Figure 2-3: Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Production, 1980-2010
  • Figure 2-4: U.S. Aquaculture Production, 2006
• Country of Origin Labeling May Assure Consumers of Safety
• Frozen vs. Fresh: Advantages and Drawbacks
• Farmed vs. Wild
• Organic Seafood Growing 20% Annually
• What is Organic Seafood Anyway?
• Convenience Packaging
• Barriers to Seafood Consumption
• Food Safety Concerns Keep Some Americans From Seafood
• Government and Retailers Promote Safety, But Not Easing Fears
• Consumers Not Educated in Seafood Preparation
• Economic Factors Affecting Seafood Consumption
• Consumers Squeezed in 2008
  • Table 2-9: Percent Changes in Food Price Indexes, 2004 through 2009
  • Table 2-10: Percent Changes in Consumer Indexes, September 2004 through September 2008
• Restaurants Face Triple Threat
• Some Seafood is Considered an Unnecessary Luxury
• Is Seafood Recession Proof?
• Canned Seafood Making a (Brief) Comeback
  • Table 2-11: Sales of Shelf Stable Seafood, 2008
• Fresh Seafood Consumption
• Most Popular Species of Fresh Seafood
  • Table 2-13: Top Ten Species by Annual Consumption (in pounds, per person) 2003-2007
• Shrimp Is The Most Popular Seafood
  • Figure 2-5: Shrimp Imports by Major Exporter, by Volume 2007
  • Figure 2-6: Shrimp Exports by Major Importer, by Volume 2007
• Tuna: Mercury Concerns Driving Down Consumption
• Cod: Quickly Disappearing
• Tilapia: Farmed Species Continues to Grow
• Pollock: The All-purpose Fish
  • Figure 2-7: Seafood Consumption Change, 2002-2007 (percent)
• Salmon: Health Benefits Outweigh Risks
• Sustainability
  • Table 2-8: Number of Marine Stewardship Council-labeled Fishery Products
• The Sushi Industry
• Sushi popularity broadens amid health concerns
• Consumer Cards Promote Sustainable Sushi
• Competitive Profiles: Sushi Without Guilt
• Advertising and Promotion
• Eco Labeling Can Be a Marketing Tool - If it's Clear
• NGOs Try To Prevent Label Confusion
• Blogs and Social Networking
• Key Seafood Marketing Events
• Market Forecast for Seafood
• Size of the U.S. Seafood Market
  • Table 2-13: U.S. Supply of Edible Fishery Products, by Weight, 2003-2013 ..
  • Table 2-14: U.S. Domestic Fishery Products, by Value, 2003-2013
• Fresh and Frozen Seafood Consumption Will Decline Through 2009
  • Table 2-15: U.S. Annual Per Capita Consumption of Fish And Shellfish (in pounds), 2003-2007 (actual), 2008-2012 (estimated)
  • Table 2-16: U.S. Annual Per Capita Consumption of Fishery Items (in pounds), 2003-2007 (actual), 2008-2012 (estimated)
• Chapter 3: The Consumer
• Highlights
• Simmons Data - What They Are
• One Third of Consumers Never Buy Fresh Seafood
  • Table 3-1: Consumer Frequency of Use of Grocery Departments and Services
• Fresh Seafood Consumers Spend Less Overall
  • Table 3-2: Grocery Expenditures: Weekly Overall, Fresh Seafood Consumers, Hamburger Consumers
  • Table 3-3: Seafood and Hamburger Purchase, by Household Size
• Who Eats Fresh Seafood?
• Northeastern and Pacific Urban Dwellers Consume More Fresh Seafood
  • Figure 3-1: Regional Seafood Consumption
  • Figure 3-2: U.S. Seafood Consumption By Metro Market Size
• Fresh Seafood Consumers: Middle Aged, Affluent, Married
  • Figure 3-3: Fresh Seafood Consumption, by Age
  • Figure 3-4: Fresh Seafood Consumption, by Income
  • Figure 3-5: Fresh Seafood Consumption, by Marital Status
• Fresh Seafood Consumers are Health Conscious
  • Table 3-4: Health Attitudes for Seafood, Hamburger, and Chicken Consumers
• Majority of Seafood Eaters Enjoy Cooking, But
  • Table 3-5: Percentage of Seafood Eaters Who Enjoy Cooking
• Seafood Eaters Frequent Fast Food Restaurants
  • Table 3-6: Percentage of Seafood Eaters Who Dine Out
  • Table 3-7: Protein Consumption Trends, 2004-2008
• Pescatarians Unite
• Food Safety Fears Not Keeping Many Consumers From Seafood
  • Table 3-8: Changes in Food Purchasing Habits Out of Safety Concerns
• Chapter 4: Retail and Foodservice Channels
• Highlights
• Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood
• Supermarket Sales of Seafood Up Slightly in 2007
• Drop Off In Restaurant Traffic Could Benefit Some Seafood Retailers
• Grocers Predict Growing Seafood Sales
• Seafood is a Small Part of Grocer's Pie, But Has High Profits
• Fewer Supermarkets Offering Fresh Seafood
  • Table 4-1: Availability of Departments and Services in Supermarkets, 2005-2008
• Salmon and Shellfish Most Popular Fresh Items; Crab Most Expensive
  • Table 4-2: Seafood Purchases at Supermarkets: Penetration and Spending by Household in 2007
• Fresh and Frozen Seafood Sales
• Fresh Seafood Sales Down at Conventional Supermarkets
• Frozen Seafood Saw an Average 5% Annual Growth 2002-2007
• Frozen Seafood Sales Slowed in 2008
  • Table 4-3: Frozen Seafood Sales, 2008 vs. 2007
  • Table 4-4: Frozen Seafood Usage, 2004-2008
• Shrimp is Most Popular Frozen Seafood
  • Figure 4-1: Types of Frozen Seafood Used
• Gorton's is the Top Frozen Seafood Brand
  • Figure 4-2: Most Popular Frozen Seafood Brands
• Supermarket Seafood Marketing Trends
• More Than Half of Seafood Consumers Shop at Wal-Mart
  • Figure 4-1: Top Supermarkets for Seafood
• Wal-Mart, Costco Win, Traditional Supermarkets Lose
• Consumers Paying More For Private Label Seafood But Not Buying More
• Merchandising Seafood as a Stand-alone Department
• The Return of the Fishmonger
• Consumers Eat Seafood in the Store
• More Retailers Embracing Sustainability
  • Table 4-5: Greenpeace's Top Five Sustainable Supermarkets for Seafood
• Retailer Profile: Whole Foods Market
• The Gold Standard in Seafood Sustainability
• Trouble Ahead for Whole Foods?
• Supermarkets Train Consumers to Prepare Seafood
• Foodservice Seafood Trends
• Foodservice Dining Trends
• Sushi at 7-Eleven
• Quick Serve Restaurants Growing
• Eating Healthy
• Sustainability a Growing Issue For Restaurant Operators
• Calorie and Fat Labeling on Menus May Boost Seafood Consumption
  • Table 4-6: Nutrition Comparison of Dinners at Macaroni Grill
• Seafood Chains
• Red Lobster Leads Seafood Restaurant Chain Sales
  • Figure 4-3: Leading U.S. Seafood Restaurant Chains
• Casual Dining Restaurants
• Red Lobster is Second Most Popular Casual Dining Chain
  • Table 4-7: Most Popular U.S. Restaurant Chains 2008
• Leaner Times For Casual Dining Seafood Restaurants
  • Figure 4-4: Casual Dining Seafood Chains
• McCormick & Schmick's: Boom Times Over for Now
• Fast Food Fish
• The Seafood QSR Segment is Relatively Tiny and Slow-Growing
  • Table 4-8: QSR Sales Growth by Segment, 2004-2006
  • Figure 4-5: Market Share of QSR Segments, 2006
  • Figure 4-6: Market Share of QSR Seafood Restaurants, 2007
• Long John Silver's Is King Of QSR Seafood
  • Table 4-9: Fast Food Visited in Last 30 Days
  • Table 4-10: Most Popular Fast Food Seafood Chains - 2008
• Fast Food Burger Chains Still Rule
  • Table 4-11: Top Ten Fast Food Chains, by Consumer Selection, 2008
• Chefs Concerned About Sustainability; Consumers Less So
• The Seafood Supply Chain: Wholesalers and Distributors
• A Frenzy of Mergers and Acquisitions
• Top Seafood Companies
  • Table 4-12: Top 10 U.S. Seafood Companies in 2007 (by sales)
• Top Seafood Foodservice Distributors
  • Table 4-13: Leading U.S. Foodservice Distributors, by Sales, 2007
• Chapter 5: Supply and Trade
• Highlights
• Imports and Exports
• Import Shares are Highest for Fish and Shellfish
  • Figure 5-1: Import Shares by Volume, 2000-2005
• Seafood Imports Were a Record $13.7 Billion in 2007
  • Table 5-1: Edible Fishery Products Imports 2003-2007
  • Table 5-2: Edible Fishery Products Imports, by Principal Items (Volume) 2003-2007
  • Table 5-3: Edible Fishery Products Imports, by Principal Items (Value) 2003-2007
• Imports: Shrimp Still Dominates, Though Slipping
  • Table 5-4: Leading U.S. Seafood Imports
  • Figure 5-2: U.S. Imports from Major Areas by Volume, 2007
  • Figure 5-3: U.S. Imports from Major Exporters, by Volume, 2007
• Exports: U.S. Exports More than 80 Percent of Catches
  • Table 5-5: Edible Fishery Products Exports 2003-2007
  • Table 6-6: Leading U.S. Seafood Exports
• Asia is the Largest Trading Region With U.S
  • Figure 5-4: U.S. Exports to Major Areas, by Volume 2007
  • Figure 5-5: U.S. Exports to Major Importers, by Volume 2007
• Into China and Back Again
• Crabs, Scallops and Salmon Most Valuable U.S. Commercial Species
  • Figure 5-6: U.S. Commercial Landings 2004 and 2007, Top 10 Species (in millions of dollars)
• Pacific Coast Dominates U.S. Fishery Landings
  • Table 5-7: U.S. Domestic Commercial Landings by Region, by Volume
  • Table 5-8: U.S. Domestic Commercial Landings by Region, by Value
• Alaska Is The Seafood State
  • Figure 5-7: U.S. Domestic Commercial Landings by Region, 2007 (million USD)
  • Figure 5-8: Fishery Landings at Major U.S. Ports, 2007 (million USD)
• How the Economy Affects Industry and Prices
• Fuel Costs May Shake Out Independent U.S. Fishers
• Grain Prices Dry Up Catfish Farms
• Long Term Help For Fishers
• Environmental Issues
• Overfishing: 30% of World's Fish Stocks Overexploited
• From Overfishing to an Acceptable Level of Fishing
• Effects of Hurricanes on Gulf Coast Fisheries
• Chapter 6: Trends and Opportunities
• Highlights
• Five Consumer Expectations
• Better-for-you Products
• Convenience Trend Means More Deli Purchases
• Increasing Consumer Demand for Eco Labeling and Health Information
  • Figure 6-1: Perceived Value of a USDA Organic Label
• Consumers Must Trust Labels
• Turning Grocery Stores into Restaurants
• Changing Demographics Represent a Growth Opportunity
• Asian and Hispanic Populations Growing at Faster Rate
  • Table 6-1: U.S. Population Change, by Race or Ethnicity, 2000 to 2004
• Asians and Hispanics Consume More Seafood
• Maturing Baby Boomers to Drive Growth in Seafood
  • Figure 6-2: Projected Protein Source Consumption Change
• Sustainability is Paramount
• Seafood Industry Will Continue to Drive Sustainability
• Players Throughout the Supply Chain are Aware of Sustainability Issues
  • Figure 6-3: Percent of Chain Restaurants Using Sustainable Seafood in 2007 and 2012
  • Figure 6-4: Percent of Retailers Using Sustainable Seafood in 2007 and 2012
  • Figure 6-5: Percent of Wholesalers Using Sustainable Seafood in 2007 and 2012
• Competitive Profiles: EcoFish and FishChoice
• Aquaculture
• Government Promotes Sustainability
• Alternatives to Farming: Safer But Less Controllable
  • Appendix: Addresses of Selected Marketers