Specialty Foods Market Report 2026

The specialty foods market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $295.54 billion in 2025 to $329.17 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing consumer preference for premium foods, growth of specialty food retailers, rising disposable income among urban consumers, expansion of gourmet food offerings, increased exposure to global cuisines.

The specialty foods market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $510.14 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for clean-label specialty foods, rising influence of e-commerce platforms, expansion of niche and regional food brands, growing focus on sustainable sourcing, innovation in specialty food formulations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for artisanal and premium foods, rising popularity of plant-based specialty products, growing focus on traceability and origin transparency, expansion of online specialty food retail, enhanced emphasis on quality and authenticity.

The growth in the number of millennials preferring at-home and healthy meals is expected to drive the specialty foods market forward. At-home and healthy meals focus on nutritious, fresh, and wholesome ingredients, giving individuals greater control over their diet and overall well-being. The rise in millennial preference for such meals is fueled by increasing health awareness and a desire for better nutrition, as this demographic actively pursues healthier lifestyles through meal preparation. Specialty foods support this trend by offering unique, high-quality, and nutrient-rich ingredients that enable millennials to prepare diverse and wholesome meals at home. For instance, in December 2024, according to Flashfood, a Canada-based grocery deals app company, 89% of U.S. consumers consider cooking meals at home not only a cost-saving strategy but also a healthier alternative to dining out or ordering in. Therefore, the growing millennial preference for at-home and healthy meals is driving the specialty foods market.

Key players in the specialty foods market are focusing on ingredient innovation, such as black garlic-based specialty products, to enhance flavor differentiation and premium positioning. Black garlic is created by aging whole garlic under controlled heat and humidity, developing a rich, umami flavor and dark color that supports clean-label, gourmet applications. For instance, in June 2024, Epicurean Pantry, a US-based specialty foods company, launched Black Garlic Cloves as part of its Black Garlic product line at the Summer Fancy Food Show. These slow-aged, all-natural cloves provide versatile culinary applications, enhancing product differentiation and allowing chefs, retailers, and consumers to access a premium ingredient with enriched flavor.

In June 2023, KeHE Distributors, a U.S.-based distributor specializing in fresh, natural, organic, and specialty products, acquired DPI Specialty Foods for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition expands KeHE’s customer base and enhances its warehouse infrastructure, allowing it to serve over 31,000 customers with more than 80,000 SKUs. As a prominent distributor in the Western United States, DPI Specialty Foods will bolster KeHE's ability to deliver innovative products and provide access to advanced business intelligence tools, including the KeHE CONNECT platform. DPI Specialty Foods specializes in ethnic and specialty food products.

Major companies operating in the specialty foods market are Hormel Foods Corporation, Lancaster Colony Corporation, Amy’s Kitchen Inc, American Spoon Foods Inc, Eden Creamery LLC, Safe Catch Inc, Applegate Farms Inc, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Bear Creek Corporation, Daily Harvest Inc, Blue Apron Holdings Inc, Beyond Meat Inc, Chobani LLC, The a2 Milk Company Limited, Calavo Growers Inc, Union Wine Company LLC, The Hershey Company, Mondelez International Inc, Danone SA, Krispy Kreme Inc, Farmer Bros Co.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the specialty foods market in 2025. Western Europe was the second-largest region in the specialty foods market report. The regions covered in the specialty foods market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the specialty foods market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The specialty foods market consists of sales of cheese and plant-based cheese, non-RTD cocoa and coffee, refrigerated and frozen poultry/seafood/meat, yogurt, candy, pretzels/snacks/chips, bread & baked goods, and other specialty foods. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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