Reports
How Supermarkets Are Shaping Up and Growing Their Lower-Calorie Products

Cardello and Wolfson on lower-calorie sales growth

Former Senior Fellow and Director, Food Policy Center
CMO, FORT Group, Inc
(MyLoupe/UIG via Getty Images)
Caption
(MyLoupe/UIG via Getty Images)

Report Highlights
* Supermarket sales of lower-calorie foods and beverages are growing faster than higher-calorie options.
* Lower-calorie product sales in supermarkets command a higher percentage of total sales than they do for either consumer packaged goods companies or restaurant chains.
* However, lower-calorie products in supermarkets are not driving growth as robustly as for packaged goods companies and restaurant chains.
* Despite growing faster than higher-calorie items, lower-calorie product share of total sales underperforms in food deserts compared to supermarkets located outside food deserts.
* Higher-calorie versions make up the overwhelming proportion of sales of products contributing the most calories to children and adolescents and are growing at a faster clip.
* Private label food and beverage products are making significant inroads in driving lower-calorie sales growth.