TRENDS

The retail channel accounted for 35% of total U.S. honey volume in 2019, at 213MM pounds the largest of any segment¹.

Retail honey sales slipped in 2021, with dollar sales down -5.1% versus 2020. Unit sales and volume also stumbled compared to 2020, off -7.4% and -8.7% respectively².

Branded honey sales continued to outperform private label in the retail channel in 2021, with branded dollar sales dipping -2.3% compared to -8.5% for private label. As a consequence, private label’s share of dollar sales slipped from 48.0% in 2015 down to 42.5% in 2021².

Honey labeled as “raw” represented 34.0% of total volume in 2021, down just -0.7% versus 2020 while “processed” honey fell -12.3%. Organic accounted for 11.7% of total honey volume in 202 and registered a decline of -6.2%, but still nearly double the 5.8% volume share it had just five years ago in 2015².

The 12 ounce size continues to reign as the #1-seller in the retail channel, accounting for 24% of all honey dollar sales. However, dollar sales of the 12 ounce size saw sales decrease -5.1% over the prior year, while the 48 ounce size saw sales edge up 5.1% versus 2020². 

¹ Source: USDA/ERS; Nielsen; Technomic

² Source: Nielsen - Answers on Demand, Total US xAOC (Latest 52 Weeks Ending 12/21/21)