A Rising Demand for Specialty Foods
If you're more than 40 years old, do you remember a time when there were very few specialty food stores in your city? Sure, we had small mom and pop stores as well as specific shops like delis, bakeries, and fish markets, but many of us remember living in towns where there wasn't even a single specialty food store to be found. That certainly has changed, as the specialty foods market has virtually exploded over the last three decades.
According to statistics from 1997, specialty food sales in America in the previous four years had averaged just over $13 billion annually. Knowing that sales have increased an average of 20% per year since then, it's easy to see why there are more and more specialty food stores popping up all over the place. Not only that, specialty foods is quickly becoming the home business of choice for individuals who have found themselves out of work and want to start their own business.
Fortunately for these home business owners, the age of the Internet has made it possible for a small little outfit in one corner of the country to create products that will be sold in other parts of the country. With the right product it's possible to become a very successful entrepreneur with well-received products. The key is to find the one specialty food that will get you started.
Definition of a Specialty Food
Many people confuse specialty foods with gourmet foods; they are not the same. Gourmet foods are loosely defined as those made with the finest ingredients according to the highest standards. Oftentimes gourmet foods are made by hand, or according to old family recipes, in order to ensure their longevity and quality.
Specialty foods on the other hand, are so designated because they are produced in limited quantities as a means of quality control and keeping the price high. Examples of common specialty foods include jams and jellies, chocolates, and pastries. Many times these foods are prepared in very limited commercial spaces or even private homes. Such businesses are usually not technologically advanced, nor do they have any need or desire to be so. They are content to simply put out their products in small numbers.
Quality of Specialty Foods
While there are exceptions to every rule, one of the common components among specialty foods is that they are very, very good. Because producers only make limited qualities from the highest quality ingredients, they are free to devote more time and attention to the production process. And as any good cook knows, making good food requires time and attention. A quality specialty food is one that stands out above all the rest; one that makes you want to go back time and again regardless of the cost.
As long as there are consumers, the specialty food industry will continue to thrive. It is one of the few industries that probably will never be swallowed up by the "big box" mentality that has taken hold in many other sectors. For that, we are grateful.
There are no comments on this page. [Add comment]