Saudi Arabia: Retail Foods
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Saudi Arabia’s retail food market continues its rapid growth, with several leading Saudi and international retailers expanding operation in response to stiff competition and changing consumers’ preferences. In 2013, the number of food retail outlets in Saudi Arabia was estimated at 40,435 stores, an increase of 15 percent over their number in 2012. The total value of food sales at these outlets was estimated at about $40 billion in 2013, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year. The total value of retail food sales is forecast to reach $45 billion in 2017. The steady growth of retail food outlets in Saudi Arabia provides U.S. suppliers of consumer products with an excellent opportunity to expand exports throughout the Kingdom. In FY2013/14, U.S. exports of consumer-oriented food products to Saudi Arabia reached a record-high of $588 million, an increase of 14 percent over exports in the previous year.
