Retail potatoes score big gains in 2020

For potatoes sold at retail, 2020 was a very good year.
 

Potatoes USA, citing figures supplied by IRI, said that retail potato dollar sales for all categories increased 16% compared with 2019, according to a news release.

With the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown of foodservice business a driver, the release said the largest growth in dollar and volume sales for retail potato sales occurred from April through June, although all months grew by over 9% for both metrics. 

Fresh potato sales increased by almost 21% in dollars and 15% in volume in 2020, according to the report. Within the fresh potato category, medley potatoes had the highest dollar and volume sales increase with dollar sales up by 34% and volume sales 38% higher than 2019. 

Package preference

While all package sizes saw double-digit growth in dollar sales, one-pound through four-pound bags saw the largest increase, growing by 24% in dollars and 19% in volume. The report said five-pound bags make up 47% of all package sizes bought at retail, and grew in dollars and volume sales by double-digits compared to 2019.