Demands for premium tastes as well as for competitively priced products helped contribute to growth in the coffee category. The category experienced a 9.1 percent increase in sales for more than $4 billion, according to SymphonyIRI Group, Chicago, for the 52 weeks ending May 15 in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, gas and convenience stores and mass merchandise outlets, excluding Wal-Mart.
Measured channels in the category showed notable growth, such as ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee brands posting a 9.6 percent increase for $821.1 million in sales, according to the market research firm. Other gainers for the year included ground coffee with 6.6 percent growth for $2.6 billion in sales, instant coffee with a 5.5 percent increase in sales for $457.2 million and the biggest increase coming from single cup coffee with 112.3 percent growth for more than $313.6 million in sales. Whole bean coffee sales decreased 2.3 percent for more than $325.7 million in sales, according to SymphonyIRI data.