November 18, 2025 — Inflation on grocery prices led to drops in seafood sales at U.S. retail stores in October.
Frozen seafood prices increased 5.3 percent year over year in October, contributing to sales declines of 2.7 percent by value to USD 723 million (EUR 624 million) and 7.6 percent by volume, according to new data from market research firm Circana analyzed by Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based 210 Analytics.
September 5, 2025 — A recently released report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found 36 percent of frozen seafood products it tested were short-weighted.
The FDA said it conducted an assessment from 2022 to 2024 to collect and test a range of frozen raw and seafood products for the practice of short-weighting – or indicating a higher net weight of seafood on the package than is actually contained. Short-weighting typically involves seafood companies adding a thicker water glaze to products that results in a higher water weight than legally allowed.
August 19, 2025 — The quality of seafood in New England is well-renowned across the country and the globe.
Now, a Massachusetts fisherman with almost half a century at sea has decided to combine his knowledge of one tasty item from the sea floor and produce a unique dinner item that you can buy in the frozen food section of your store.
“I make seafood pies with clam meat. And I make these clam dinners. Three different dinners,” said Capt. Al Rencurrel, the owner of Nantucket Sound Seafood, based in Fall River, Massachusetts.
For more than 40 years, Rencurrel has been dragging for clams in the waters surrounding Cape Cod and the Islands. He would then take his catch and sell it to seafood distributors. Three years ago, he decided to chart a new course for his clams and company when he started the frozen seafood dinner company.
August 12, 2025 — U.S. consumers paid more for seafood – and food overall – at retail stores in July, according to new data but the increases didn’t dent fresh sales volumes.
Fresh seafood prices increased 1.5 percent year over year at U.S. retail in the month, according to Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based 210 Analytics, which analyzes data from market research firm Circana.
June 18, 2024 — Average seafood retail prices dropped again in May 2024, continuing a steady decline in recent months. But it was not enough to boost sales, which dropped despite holiday surges from both Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.
Frozen seafood prices dropped 3.6 percent year over year in May, the largest decrease by category across the seafood retail landscape, but sales of frozen seafood by value dipped 4.6 percent to USD 738 million (EUR 687 million), according to Circana data analyzed by Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based food research firm 210 Analytics.
Fresh seafood prices declined 1.4 percent, and sales by value fell 3.1 percent to USD 820 million (EUR 764 million). However, the shelf-stable and ambient seafood category saw sales increase 2.2 percent to USD 310 million (EUR 289 million), with prices dropping down 2.2 percent.
July 11, 2022 — High inflation continues to impact fresh seafood sales in U.S. grocery stores, but sales of canned and pouched seafood are rising as shoppers cut costs.
Inflation on fresh seafood was down slightly in June compared to the past two months, but was still up 10.9 percent on average per unit for the month.
Frozen seafood sales were also negatively impacted by rising inflation in June, but not as severely as fresh sales, according to new data from IRI and 210 Analytics.
Inflation is also impacting frozen seafood sales, though frozen seafood sales reached USD 520 million in June, outpacing fresh retail sales.
Ninety-three percent of Americans are concerned about inflation and 81 percent are applying money-saving measures, according to IRI’s June consumer shopping habits survey. And 96 percent of consumers say they are paying somewhat or a lot more for grocery items than they did last year, the survey found.
Eighty-one percent of grocery shoppers made changes to what and where they purchased in June, up from 50 percent in the fall of 2021, according to IRI’s June shopper survey.
Changes include looking for sales specials, skipping non-essentials, finding coupons, and buying more private or other low-cost brands.
In addition, 51 percent of shoppers are stocking up on certain items more than usual – 18 percent out of fear they will not be available next time and 26 percent out of concern that prices may rise further.
March 22, 2022 — Retail seafood sales have dropped thus far in 2022, according to new data, with inflation playing a key role in the decline.
Fresh seafood prices surged an average of 10.9 percent in February 2022 versus last February, according to IRI and 210 Analytics. Fresh finfish saw the biggest average price increase, up 18.9 percent to reach USD 9.09 (EUR 8.24) per unit on average, while fresh shellfish had the lowest price hike across all seafood, at 2 percent per unit.
February 14, 2022 — While the seafood sector appears well positioned for growth, can the supply chain hold as demand rises? The Food Institute takes a closer look at some of the category’s recent developments.
Fresh and frozen seafood product revenues were higher over the last year and Allied Market Research projects sales to rise at a 2.5% CAGR through 2027.
Yet, potential issues await merchandisers that are unable to keep pace with growing consumer demand for a wider array of seafood options, beginning with the rising interest in preparing seafood at home in reaction to the pandemic.
Supply chain restraints, such as declining quotas for some wild-caught seafood species, are also causing out-of-stocks and increasing the demand for products that are in short supply, which is helping to drive inflation. This includes most shellfish products, which because of fishing restrictions, were facing lower harvests in 2021 and lower quotas in 2022.
January 19, 2022 — Fresh and frozen seafood hit record sales in 2021, and analysts speaking at the National Fisheries Institute’s Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC) in Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. on Tuesday, 18 January expect the positive sales trend to continue.
The frozen seafood category realized “amazing numbers” last year, IRI Senior Vice President Protein Practice Chris DuBois said, as sales rose 2.8 percent compared to 2020 and 40.8 percent versus 2019 to USD 7.2 billion (EUR 6.3 billion).
October 12, 2021 — Frozen and fresh seafood sales reached nearly USD 5.5 billion (EUR 4.8 billion) in sales for the first nine months of 2021, with fresh sales leading the way in dollar and volume growth, according to new data.
Fresh seafood sales spiked 3.9 percent by value and 2.9 percent by volume and frozen seafood sales grew 2 percent by value, but shrunk 2.4 percent by volume through the first three quarters of 2021, according to research firms IRI and 210 Analytics.