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Competition From Other Markets and Private Labels Has Resulted in a Decline of 5% Over the Last 5 Years in the Canned Fruit and Vegetable Market in the United States

Posted on: Thursday, 27 October 2005, 18:01 CDT

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c26546 ) has announced the addition of Canned Fruit & Vegetables in the United States to their offering

The market for canned fruit and vegetables in the U.S. exhibits signs of slow decline. Sales of canned fruit and vegetables decreased 5% in current dollars from 2000 to 2005, from $3.8 billion to $3.6 billion. Still, canned fruit and vegetables are present in three-quarters of all U.S. households. Declining sales are related to competition from other markets and the popularity of private labels within the canned fruit market--both driving the price point downward.

Also affecting the market is the long-term trend of consumers moving away from cooking meals at home. The availability of other convenient produce options, such as pre-cut fruit and vegetables and bagged salads, also negatively impact the market. Agricultural advances have also made many forms of produce that were previously seasonal available year-round, creating less demand for canned versions.

Since the majority of canned fruit and vegetable offerings have not changed in terms of packaging formats, innovative products tend to be growth drivers for the category. Product lines that experienced growth include those packaged in glass bottles rather than cans, ethnic and regional items, and those with inventive flavors. Also showing growth are single serving containers, which appeal to consumers as average household size decreases.

Without a significant change in the perception of canned fruit and vegetables, the category will continue to approach the level of differentiation and positioning of commodity products. Increased uptake of private labels, which currently account for more sales than the top two brands combined, will certainly continue to erode the positioning of branded products in this sector.

For the purposes of this report, the following definitions have been used:

"Canned vegetables" includes all tinned vegetables, but sometimes in bottles or jars, except tomatoes and baked beans.

"Canned fruit" includes all tinned fruit, but sometimes also in bottles, jars, or plastic. Products may be canned in water, juice, or syrup.

This report excludes:

canned tomatoes, tomato sauce or paste

baked beans

canned fruit pie filling

juice of any kind

fresh, frozen, dried, or glazed fruit or vegetables

refrigerated or marinated fruit or vegetables

fruit butter

fruit-flavored syrup

pickles, relish, olives

This report contains US IRI InfoScan data.

Companies Mentioned

Del Monte Foods Company

General Mills

Dole

Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (Mott's)

Bush Brothers & Company

Seneca Foods

Allen Canning Company

ConAgra Foods Inc.

Knouse Foods (Musselman's)

Goya Foods

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c26546

Source: Business Wire

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