Page 33 - Retail World March 2021

MAKING WAVES AFTER CHALLENGING TIMES Seafood trends, advice and the impacts of Covid-19. BTy Nicholas Rider. he size of the total seafood category, according to Simplot Seafood Marketing Manager Tom Peek, has remained “relatively consistent” over the past few years. The impact of Covid-19, however, has led to “accelerated growth” within many retail seafood segments. For example, shelf seafood has grown 4.1 per cent in volume in the past nine months compared with a three-year pre-Covid-19 CAGR decline of 1.3 per cent (IRI Scan Data, Total Grocery Unweighted, 1/3/20-6/12/20, supplied by Simplot). In a similar trend, frozen seafood has grown by 6.4 per cent since March 2020 compared with a pre-Covid three-year CAGR of 1.5 per cent. “Both shelf and frozen seafood are important categories during and after Covid-19,” Mr Peek said, “as they serve as pantry and freezer staples and are an affordable and nutritious meal solution.” TO PAGE 32 SEAFOOD MAR, 2021 RETAIL WORLD 31