With US retail sales of food and beverages hitting $1,388.7 billion in 2023, this post dives into the figures that explain how people cook, buy, and share food from restaurant spending and online delivery to home kitchen tech, price swings, and the health impact of foodborne illness.
Key Takeaways
- US retail sales of food and beverages totaled $1,388.7 billion in 2023
- US sales of food services (restaurants and bars) were $997.0 billion in 2023
- Global retail market for food reached $8.2 trillion in 2022
- 63% of US consumers reported using video recipes or cooking content online
- In 2022, 66% of internet users in Germany ordered goods online, and 6% ordered prepared food online at least once a month
- In 2023, 44% of EU individuals reported buying prepared meals online in the past 12 months
- CDC estimated 48 million foodborne illnesses annually in the US (all pathogens)
- CDC estimates 128,000 hospitalizations annually in the US from foodborne diseases
- CDC estimates 3,000 deaths annually in the US from foodborne diseases
- US consumer price index for food at home rose 5.4% year-over-year in 2023
- Average retail price of chicken breast was $3.68/lb in 2023 (USDA data)
- Average retail price of ground beef was $5.50/lb in 2023 (USDA data)
- In 2023, global online grocery penetration reached 6.4% of grocery retail sales (industry estimates)
- In 2022, 54% of global internet users used at least one social media platform daily (DataReportal)
- In 2024, ChatGPT had 100 million weekly active users (OpenAI)
From soaring food prices to growing online cooking and delivery, US and global meals are going digital fast.
Market Size
1US retail sales of food and beverages totaled $1,388.7 billion in 2023[1]
Verified2US sales of food services (restaurants and bars) were $997.0 billion in 2023[1]
Verified3Global retail market for food reached $8.2 trillion in 2022[2]
Verified4Global online food delivery market is forecast to reach $182.2 billion in 2024[3]
Directional5Global meal kit delivery market size is forecast to reach $14.1 billion in 2024[4]
Single source6Global home cooking and recipe content market (food media) is projected to reach $33.9 billion by 2029[5]
Verified7France food sales in supermarkets totaled €132.0 billion in 2023[6]
Verified8Italy restaurant and catering sales totaled €96.0 billion in 2023[7]
Verified9In 2023, US food manufacturing sales were $1.0 trillion[8]
DirectionalMarket Size Interpretation
Across the food ecosystem, consumer spending is massive and shifting toward at-home experiences, with US food retail at $1,388.7 billion in 2023 alongside a forecast leap for global online food delivery to $182.2 billion in 2024 and home cooking and recipe content projected to reach $33.9 billion by 2029.
User Adoption
163% of US consumers reported using video recipes or cooking content online[9]
Verified2In 2022, 66% of internet users in Germany ordered goods online, and 6% ordered prepared food online at least once a month[10]
Verified3In 2023, 44% of EU individuals reported buying prepared meals online in the past 12 months[10]
Verified4In 2023, 26% of EU individuals bought ready-to-eat food online at least once[10]
Directional5In 2023, 29% of US adults used smart kitchen appliances[11]
Single source6In 2022, 41% of households in Sweden cooked at home at least 6 days per week[12]
Verified7In 2023, 57% of consumers in the UK used an online retailer for grocery staples[13]
VerifiedUser Adoption Interpretation
Across these markets, people are increasingly turning to digital and at-home solutions, with 63% of US consumers using video recipes online and 44% of EU individuals buying prepared meals online in 2023.
Performance Metrics
1CDC estimated 48 million foodborne illnesses annually in the US (all pathogens)[14]
Verified2CDC estimates 128,000 hospitalizations annually in the US from foodborne diseases[14]
Verified3CDC estimates 3,000 deaths annually in the US from foodborne diseases[14]
Verified4CDC estimates 1 in 6 Americans get sick from foodborne disease each year[14]
Directional5Foodborne pathogens cause 96% of foodborne disease burden in CDC estimates[14]
Single source6In 2020, 4.7 million people were affected by foodborne diseases in the US (CDC estimate subset)[14]
VerifiedPerformance Metrics Interpretation
Even though about 1 in 6 Americans get sick each year, the CDC still estimates 48 million foodborne illnesses, leading to 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually, with foodborne pathogens responsible for 96% of the overall burden.
Cost Analysis
1US consumer price index for food at home rose 5.4% year-over-year in 2023[15]
Verified2Average retail price of chicken breast was $3.68/lb in 2023 (USDA data)[16]
Verified3Average retail price of ground beef was $5.50/lb in 2023 (USDA data)[16]
Verified4Average retail price of eggs was $1.80/dozen in 2023 (USDA data)[16]
Directional5In 2023, restaurant and other food service prices increased 6.6% (CPI)[15]
Single source6US food price index increased from 2019 base by 18% by 2023 (USDA/ BLS series)[17]
Verified7Gas cooking typically has lower fuel cost than electric cooking by 15%–25% (industry cost comparison)[18]
VerifiedCost Analysis Interpretation
In 2023, food costs rose sharply with the overall food at home CPI up 5.4% year over year and restaurant prices up 6.6%, while key staples like eggs at $1.80 per dozen and chicken breast at $3.68 per pound stayed at elevated levels and the broader food price index was 18% higher than its 2019 base.
Industry Trends
1In 2023, global online grocery penetration reached 6.4% of grocery retail sales (industry estimates)[19]
Verified2In 2022, 54% of global internet users used at least one social media platform daily (DataReportal)[20]
Verified3In 2024, ChatGPT had 100 million weekly active users (OpenAI)[21]
Verified4In 2022, 33% of consumers used smart kitchen devices (survey)[22]
Directional5In 2021, consumer spending on home cooking-related products increased 12% year-over-year (US retail)[23]
Single source6In 2023, average US household size was 2.5 persons, impacting meal portioning and cooking behavior (Census)[24]
Verified7In 2023, 21% of US adults reported being food insecure at some level (USDA)[25]
Verified8In 2022, 10% of US adults were food insecure with very low food security (USDA)[25]
Verified9In 2023, 7.1% of Americans were in SNAP households (USDA)[26]
Directional10In 2022, 8.6% of US households participated in WIC (USDA)[27]
Single source11In 2022, 12% of US households used food stamps to buy ready-to-eat foods (US survey)[28]
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
With global online grocery at just 6.4% of sales in 2023 while 54% of internet users were daily social media users and 33% used smart kitchen devices in 2022, the data suggests home cooking is increasingly shaped by digital habits and affordability pressures, underscored by 21% of Americans reporting some food insecurity in 2023.
References
- 1census.gov/retail/mrts/www/data/pdf/ec_current.pdf
- 8census.gov/naics/?input=311
- 23census.gov/retail/index.html
- 24census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/families/households.html
- 2statista.com/statistics/202294/food-industry-market-size-worldwide/
- 3statista.com/statistics/654968/online-food-delivery-market-size-worldwide/
- 4statista.com/statistics/1001047/meal-kit-market-size-worldwide/
- 11statista.com/statistics/1191962/smart-kitchen-adoption-us-adults/
- 22statista.com/topics/4130/smart-home/
- 5marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-media-market-123918901.html
- 6insee.fr/en/statistiques/serie/001653241
- 7istat.it/en/
- 9nielsen.com/us/en/insights/report/2023/video-recipe-consumption/
- 10ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=E-commerce_statistics_for_individuals
- 12scb.se/en/finding-statistics/
- 13ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry
- 14cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
- 15bls.gov/cpi/
- 16ams.usda.gov/market-news/retail
- 17ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/
- 25ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics/
- 28ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-security-in-the-united-states/
- 18energy.gov/energysaver/
- 19planetretail.com/online-grocery-penetration/
- 20datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-global-overview-report
- 21openai.com/index/chatgpt/
- 26fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
- 27fns.usda.gov/pd/wic-program