The steady increase in seafood sales over the past two years has been well documented, with more consumers opting to cook seafood at home at the start of the pandemic and that trend continuing for taste, health, and sustainability reasons throughout 2021 and 2022. According to Food Marketing Institute, the global seafood market is expected to hit $110 billion, with the U.S. market accounting for more than 25% of that market share. As seafood consumption continues to climb into 2023, the biggest trend we’ll see is particularity on which types, with consumers branching beyond “comfort species,” and putting more focus on inspiration, sustainability and origin, specifically choosing wild more often.
According to FMI’s 2022 Power of Seafood Report, half of consumers say they’ve been cooking more meals with seafood throughout the pandemic, with 59% of shoppers considered frequent (two or more times a week) or occasional (once a week or once a month) seafood consumers. Forty percent of seafood consumers say they are buying new or different types of seafood, including grab-and-go meals and marinated/seasoned options.