US Father’s Day spending expected to hit record, but seafood retailers still emphasizing value

Predictions for record spending this Father’s Day are not swaying U.S. grocery chains from emphasizing their value seafood offerings.

Americans will collectively spend an estimated record-high USD 22.9 billion (EUR 21 billion) to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, 18 June, up from USD 20 billion (EUR 18 billion) in 2022, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual survey. Greeting cards and clothing will be the top items purchased for the holiday, according to the survey, which was conducted by Proper Insights and Analytics, but 52 percent of respondents said they will give fathers a special outing such as dinner or brunch.

Of the 79 percent of Americans who plan to celebrate Father’s Day this year, 42 percent plan to grill or barbecue, 34 percent will be cooking inside or baking, and 27 percent will go out for food and drinks, according to a separate Numerator survey.

“Father’s Day remains a momentous occasion for Americans to honor the important men in their lives,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Consumers plan to celebrate the holiday in a big way this year, and retailers are ready to help make it special.”

U.S. consumers will spend an average USD 196.23 (EUR 179.21) per person for Father’s Day, far exceeding the previous record of USD 174.10 (EUR 159.00) in 2021, according to NRF and Prosper Analytics.

As they did for Mother’s Day, which also produced record spending by Americans this year – restaurants, retailers, and e-commerce shops are heavily promoting seafood for the holiday.

The Fresh Market, a Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.A.-based chain of 159 stores, is selling snow crab leg clusters for USD 9.99 (EUR 9.24) a pound, fresh wild sockeye salmon for USD 19.99 (EUR 18.47) per pound.

Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S.A.-based Fresh Thyme Market, which operates 70 stores throughout the Midwest, is discounting...

Photo courtesy of Fresh Thyme Market