Specialty Food Stores NAICS 4452

Jan 13, 2026 - Shoppers to Spend More in 2026

• Consumers plan to spend more on groceries in 2026, according to an international survey conducted by consulting firm AlixPartners. However, their strong emphasis on value poses both opportunities and challenges for specialty food retailers. While grocery is the only retail category expected to see higher overall spending this year, shoppers are increasingly price‑sensitive and willing to switch retailers for even modest savings, the survey found. That means specialty stores, often positioned around premium, curated, or artisanal products, may face heightened pressure as consumers trade down, plan purchases more carefully, and reduce impulse buys. Younger and higher‑income shoppers are the most likely to increase grocery spending, offering a potential bright spot for specialty retailers that cater to them. However, 60% of shoppers say they would switch stores for better prices or promotions, far outweighing factors like service or experience.
• Specialty food retailers are thriving post‑pandemic thanks to a combination of elevated consumer interest in health and wellness, strong demand from higher‑income shoppers, and favorable pricing dynamics, Grocery Dive reports. Despite years of inflation, tariffs, and price‑sensitive consumers, specialty grocers have consistently outperformed traditional and even discount grocers in foot‑traffic growth, with gains in 2024 and 2025, according to market insight firm Placer.ai. The pandemic boosted long‑term demand for premium, organic, and wellness‑oriented products, core strengths for specialty retailers. High‑income shoppers, whose spending power has grown in a bifurcated economy, are driving much of this growth, even as specialty products remain more expensive than mass‑market alternatives. Inflation has also played a role with a meaningful share of sales growth coming from higher prices, provided retailers maintain transaction volume. Also, organic foods have seen smaller price increases than conventional items, helping specialty grocers stay competitive in a challenging grocery landscape.

• President Trump has issued an executive order eliminating reciprocal tariffs on hundreds of food products, including coffee, tea, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, beef, tropical fruits, fruit juices, and more, Grocery Dive reported in November. In all, more than 200 agricultural commodities are now exempt from the 10% global tariff and country-specific duties imposed by the Trump administration earlier this year. The White House said the exemptions result from the administration’s progress on various trade deals, including with countries that produce agricultural goods not commonly grown in the US. Trump’s move comes amid stubborn grocery inflation and growing consumer frustration with the high cost of living. The tariff rollback lowers costs and supply constraints for importers, which should travel through the supply chain to food distributors, retailers, and ultimately consumers.
• Producer prices for specialty food stores rose 1.8% in September compared to a year ago, after falling 1.6% in the previous September-versus-September annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Producer prices have eased from their highs in 2024 even as consumer prices for food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) increased 0.5% from August to September and were 2.7% higher than in September 2024, per the BLS. Meanwhile, employment by specialty food stores grew 0.8% year over year in August, while the average industry wage climbed 8.7% over the same period to a new high of $20.39 per hour, BLS data show.