"The Los Angeles grocery chain selling these fancy concoctions is doing so well, it opened three new stores in 2025 - its biggest expansion since 2011. The chain reportedly generates $1,800 to $2,500 in sales per square foot, up to five times what a typical U.S. supermarket earns."
"These aren't ordinary blended drinks; they include ingredients such as high-grade sea moss gel, adaptogenic mushrooms and collagen peptides. Often they come with a celebrity's name attached."
"When people feel life is out of control, they reach for something small, expensive and signaling virtue. This is the real reason premium food is booming while some traditional luxury brands struggle."
Consumer confidence in the U.S. has fallen to a decade low, with Americans cutting back on dining out and delaying purchases. Despite this, premium food sales are thriving, exemplified by Erewhon's $22 smoothies and the specialty food market's growth to over $219 billion. Wealthier consumers are driving this trend, purchasing high-end products that signal virtue. Even as inflation pushes many to cheaper options, premium goods are gaining market share, reflecting a psychological response to economic stress.
Read at Fortune
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