American Industry Overview: Shortening, Table Oils, Margarine and Other Edible Fats and Oils
Many of the goods classified in this industry are long-time staples of the American kitchen, including shortening, butter, and margarine. U.S. sales of butter, margarine, and table spreads totaled $5.2 billion in 2007. Although this figure represented an increase from the early years of the decade, when the market was estimated at $4 billion, the main reason for the increase was rising dairy prices, not increased consumer usage. Despite numerous challenges for this segment of the industry, 80 percent of Americans still used the products in the...