U.S. households spend an average of 7200 dollars each year on food and beverages. The food market generates 1.12 trillion dollars in revenue and beverages add another 514 billion dollars. Demand for low-sugar products now stands at 54 percent of consumers while plant-based meat purchases have risen 20 percent.
Key Takeaways
- Average U.S. household spends $7,200 on food/beverages annually 2023.
- 54% of Americans seek low-sugar products 2023.
- Plant-based meat consumption up 20% in U.S. 2023.
- U.S. food and beverage manufacturing employs 1.8 million workers 2023.
- Average wage in food manufacturing $25/hour 2023.
- 1.7 million jobs in foodservice 2023.
- The U.S. food market revenue amounted to approximately $1.12 trillion in 2023.
- The U.S. beverage market generated over $514 billion in revenue in 2023.
- Food and beverage industry expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2028.
- U.S. produced 41.6 billion pounds of cheese in 2023.
- U.S. corn production for food/bev 15 billion bushels in 2023.
- Soybean output 4.2 billion bushels used in food oils 2023.
- U.S. food exports reached $180 billion in 2023.
- U.S. food imports totaled $200 billion in 2023.
- Top export: soybeans $28 billion 2023.
In 2023, Americans boosted demand for convenient, low sugar, plant forward, and sustainable food choices.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer Trends and Spending25 stats
01
Average U.S. household spends $7,200on food/beverages annually 2023.
02
54% of Americans seek low-sugar products 2023.
03
Plant-based meat consumption up 20% in U.S. 2023.
04
70% of U.S. consumers prioritize sustainable packaging 2023.
05
Online grocery shopping 15% of total sales U.S. 2023.
06
42% of meals eaten out or delivered U.S. 2023.
07
Functional foods market driven by 60% health-conscious buyers 2023.
08
Keto diet followers 12% of U.S. adults 2023.
09
80% of millennials prefer local food products 2023.
10
Non-alcoholic beer sales up 30% U.S. 2023.
11
55% U.S. consumers buy organic weekly 2023.
12
Ready-to-eat meals consumption doubled since 2019 U.S.
13
67% prefer low/no alcohol beverages 2023.
14
Snack occasions increased 25% post-pandemic U.S.
15
75% of Gen Z seek plant-forward diets 2023.
16
Home cooking up 10%, dining out down 5% 2023.
17
Protein snacks 40% market growth U.S. 2023.
18
62% avoid artificial ingredients 2023.
19
Ethnic foods consumption up 15% U.S. 2023.
20
Hydration beverages 50% prefer flavored water 2023.
21
48% buy premium ice cream 2023.
22
Gut health products sales +35% 2023.
23
70% women seek low-calorie options 2023.
24
Coffee pod sales 60% of at-home coffee U.S. 2023.
25
55% prioritize convenience foods 2023.
Interpretation
Consumer Trends and Spending Interpretation
The average American household, while spending $7,200 a year to feed itself, is now a contradictory hive of activity: we're cooking more but ordering out relentlessly, desperately seeking healthy, sustainable, local options while simultaneously doubling down on premium ice cream and ready-to-eat meals, all in a valiant but chaotic attempt to have our organic cake and eat it too, without the sugar or the guilt.
02 · Category
Employment and Labor24 stats
01
U.S. food and beverage manufacturing employs 1.8 million workers 2023.
02
Average wage in food manufacturing $25/hour 2023.
03
1.7 million jobs in foodservice 2023.
04
Grocery retail employs 2.6 million U.S. 2023.
05
Labor turnover rate 80% in restaurants 2023.
06
40% shortage of skilled food processors 2023.
07
Women comprise 40% of food manufacturing workforce.
08
Hispanic workers 25% of food industry 2023.
09
Training investments $2 billion annually U.S. food sector.
10
Automation reduced manual jobs by 10% 2023.
11
500,000 new jobs projected by 2030 food/bev.
12
Unionized workers 5% in food manufacturing 2023.
13
Overtime hours average 5/week in peak seasons.
14
Remote work 2% in food production roles 2023.
15
Safety incidents down 15% due to training 2023.
16
Gen Z 20% of new hires in foodservice 2023.
17
Benefits coverage 85% full-time food workers.
18
Food delivery drivers 4 million U.S. 2023.
19
Brewery employment 180,000 U.S. 2023.
20
Dairy farm workers 100,000 declining 2%/year.
21
Supply chain jobs 1 million logistics food 2023.
22
Diversity training mandatory 70% firms 2023.
23
Wage growth 4.5% food manufacturing 2023.
24
Part-time workers 30% food retail 2023.
Interpretation
Employment and Labor Interpretation
Behind a nation fed by over 7 million workers lies a frantic, high-turnover ballet of training, automation, and wage hikes, desperately trying to fill the plates and jobs that our growing appetite creates.
03 · Category
Market Size and Growth30 stats
01
The U.S. food market revenue amounted to approximately $1.12 trillion in 2023.
02
The U.S. beverage market generated over $514 billion in revenue in 2023.
03
Food and beverage industry expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2028.
04
Total U.S. foodservice sales reached $1.1 trillion in 2023.
05
Grocery store sales in the U.S. hit $1.02 trillion in 2023.
06
U.S. organic food sales grew to $62.4 billion in 2022.
07
Plant-based food sales in the U.S. reached $8.1 billion in 2023.
08
U.S. craft beer market valued at $28.9 billion in 2023.
09
Non-alcoholic beverage market in U.S. projected to reach $200 billion by 2027.
10
U.S. snack food market size was $50.1 billion in 2023.
11
Dairy market in U.S. valued at $124 billion in 2023.
12
U.S. meat and poultry market revenue $250 billion in 2023.
13
Bakery products market in U.S. $78 billion in 2023.
14
U.S. confectionery market $42 billion in 2023.
15
Bottled water sales in U.S. $40 billion in 2023.
16
U.S. ready-to-drink coffee market $6.5 billion in 2023.
17
Functional beverage market $15 billion in U.S. 2023.
18
U.S. frozen food market $70 billion in 2023.
19
Meal kit delivery market $10 billion in U.S. 2023.
20
U.S. pet food market $58 billion in 2023 (related to industry).
21
E-commerce food sales $100 billion in U.S. 2023.
22
U.S. wine market $70 billion in 2023.
23
Spirits market U.S. $40 billion in 2023.
24
U.S. soft drinks market $100 billion in 2023.
25
Energy drinks U.S. market $19 billion in 2023.
26
U.S. fruit and vegetable market $200 billion in 2023.
27
Seafood market U.S. $25 billion in 2023.
28
U.S. food delivery market $300 billion in 2023.
29
Healthy snack market $90 billion U.S. 2023.
30
U.S. food processing industry output $900 billion in 2022.
Interpretation
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
With Americans spending trillions on everything from craft beer to pet food, our national pastime is clearly consuming, and the industry is happily serving up a supersized portion of growth on the side.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production and Manufacturing30 stats
01
U.S. produced 41.6 billion pounds of cheese in 2023.
02
U.S. corn production for food/bev 15 billion bushels in 2023.
03
Soybean output 4.2 billion bushels used in food oils 2023.
04
U.S. wheat production 1.9 billion bushels for baking 2023.
05
Beef production 27 billion pounds in U.S. 2023.
06
Pork production 27.5 billion pounds U.S. 2023.
07
Poultry production 46 billion pounds U.S. 2023.
08
Milk production 226 billion pounds U.S. 2023.
09
Sugar production 9 million tons U.S. 2023.
10
Bottled water production 15.9 billion gallons U.S. 2023.
11
Beer production 170 million barrels U.S. 2023.
12
U.S. food manufacturing establishments number 31,000 in 2023.
13
Frozen food production output $56 billion U.S. 2023.
14
U.S. bakery output 13 billion pounds bread annually.
15
Snack production 5 billion pounds chips U.S. 2023.
16
U.S. juice production 1.2 billion gallons 2023.
17
Yogurt production 2.5 billion pounds U.S. 2023.
18
Ice cream production 900 million gallons U.S. 2023.
19
U.S. pasta production 4.8 billion pounds 2023.
20
Peanut butter production 300 million pounds U.S. 2023.
21
Tomato processing 12 million tons U.S. 2023.
22
U.S. soft drink production 12 billion gallons 2023.
23
Energy drink production 2 billion cans U.S. 2023.
24
U.S. craft distillery spirits 10 million cases 2023.
25
Wine production 900 million gallons U.S. 2023.
26
Organic milk production 5 billion pounds U.S. 2023.
27
Plant-based milk production 700 million gallons 2023.
28
U.S. seafood processing 5 billion pounds 2023.
29
Candy production 8 billion pounds U.S. 2023.
30
Coffee roasting 1.5 million tons U.S. 2023.
Interpretation
Production and Manufacturing Interpretation
The U.S. food industry is a feast of staggering proportions, yet it rests on a surprisingly fragile plate.
05 · Category
Trade and Exports/Imports22 stats
01
U.S. food exports reached $180 billion in 2023.
02
U.S. food imports totaled $200 billion in 2023.
03
Top export: soybeans $28 billion 2023.
04
Tree nuts exports $9 billion U.S. 2023.
05
Meat exports $17 billion 2023.
06
Dairy exports $9.5 billion U.S. 2023.
07
50% of U.S. fresh fruit imported 2023.
08
Seafood imports 90% of consumption $25B.
09
Canada top partner food trade $60B 2023.
10
Mexico food trade $50B U.S. 2023.
11
EU food imports from U.S. $15B 2023.
12
China imports $40B U.S. ag products 2023.
13
Processed food exports up 10% 2023.
14
Tariffs impacted $5B food trade 2023.
15
35% growth in beverage exports 2023.
16
Wine exports $1.9B U.S. 2023.
17
60% coffee imported U.S. 2023.
18
Sugar imports 3 million tons 2023.
19
Vegetable oil imports $10B 2023.
20
Free trade agreements cover 80% food exports.
21
Logistics costs 10% of food import value 2023.
22
U.S. spirits exports $2B 2023.
Interpretation
Trade and Exports/Imports Interpretation
America is a net importer of dinner and a net exporter of the things that feed the world, proving we'd rather trade our soybeans for a steady supply of avocados and coffee.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Us Food And Beverage Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-food-and-beverage-industry-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Us Food And Beverage Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/us-food-and-beverage-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Us Food And Beverage Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-food-and-beverage-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
50 datasets cited across this report