: Published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (and ScienceDirect ), this study found that people shop differently online, often spending more money per trip but purchasing fewer impulsive items like candy compared to in-store visits. 2. Market Analysis & Growth Reports
: ITS Logistics provides a real-world look at how a specialty snack brand moved from Amazon-only sales to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) online presence to maintain brand control. Key Emerging Trends for 2026 buy speciality food online
: This case study (from the University of Kent ) examines the "7Ps" of the marketing mix for virtual food retailers. It highlights the differences in strategy between "pure-play" online grocers (like Ocado) and "brick-and-click" hybrid models. : Published in the Journal of Nutrition Education
: According to Ken Research , the global specialty food market is driven by a health-conscious shift and a rising middle class (particularly in China). The report notes that U.S. online grocery sales reached $100 billion in 2023, accounting for 12% of total grocery sales. Key Emerging Trends for 2026 : This case
Academic studies often focus on consumers choose to buy specialty items online—typically citing variety, perceived control, and lifestyle factors over simple price-saving.
Industry reports provide hard data on the massive scale of the specialty food e-commerce market, which is currently seeing rapid expansion.
For a look at the operational side of online specialty food, these papers examine the "how."