Despite a recessionary climate, U.S. sales of ice cream and related frozen desserts (including frozen yogurt and frozen novelties) increased 2 percent to reach $25 billion in 2009.
American consumers embrace an expanding range of foods and beverages -- driven by ever more complex lifestyles and schedules, nutritional and dietary considerations and culinary cross-currents.
In its 2009 report, “Frozen Foods in the U.S.,” New York researcher Packaged Facts said retail packaged frozen food sales grew by 6.5 percent to $51.8 billion.
Although the category has not been recession proof, U.S. retail functional food and beverage sales still grew by 6 percent to an estimated $31 billion in 2008 from $29 billion the year before.
With their celebrity status granted through cable TV, high-powered chefs remain very familiar to millions and are influencing culinary behavior on unprecedented levels, says Packaged Facts.
In a recent BBMG survey, 23 percent of American consumers reported that they have "no way of knowing" if a product is green or actually does what it claims.