Potato retail sales up double digits year-over-year, report says

U.S. retail dollar sales of potatoes increased double digits this summer, growing 16.8% from July 2022 to June 2023, according to a recent Circana (IRI) report.

What’s more, the second quarter of 2023 saw retail dollar sales growth of 14.5% compared with the same period in 2022. Dollar sales for the potato category reached $16.9 billion for the 52-week period, the highest in five years, the report said.

On the flip side, the report revealed that potato volume sales were down by 2.6% for the year and down 3.3% for the quarter; volume remains 2.5% above pre-pandemic levels.  

Retail prices increased for all potatoes for the full year by 19.9%, but as evidenced by the strength of sales, potatoes remain affordable for consumers with an average price of $2.36 per pound, the report said.

The second quarter of 2023 showed similar results, with a price increase of 18.3% compared with the same period last year and an average price of $2.56 per pound.

Related news: 2022 season saw reduced acreage, higher prices for Washington and Oregon potatoes

According to Circana reporting data, all categories of potatoes — canned, fresh and frozen — increased in dollar sales for both the year and the quarter. 

Despite a slight volume decrease, volume sales for the 52-week period remain 2.5% higher than pre-pandemic levels. The most significant volume sales declines for the period were a 5.2% decrease instant potatoes and a 3.1% loss in deli-prepared sides. That said, those categories make up just 13% of the total store volume for retail potato sales.

For fresh potatoes, the average sales price for the 52-week period was $1.01 per pound, a 19.8% increase from the previous year. Fresh dollar sales increased for all types except white, fingerling and purple potatoes, the report said.

More potato insights

• Yellow potatoes were the only member of the fresh category to grow in dollar sales at a 21.4% increase and a 7% increase in volume sales.

• Russet potatoes, which make up 62% of all volume sales for the fresh category, saw dollar sales increase by 23.5% and volume decline by 3.3% for the year, the report said. Russet potatoes had the biggest year-over-year price increase in the fresh category, though they still have an average sale price under $1 per pound.

• All pack sizes except packages larger than 10 pounds saw an increase in dollar sales year-over-year. All bags 5 pounds or less grew in both dollar and volume sales for the period, according to the report.