« October 2007 Table of Contents 
Prepared-mollusk retail category up 23.8 percent
Ready-to-cook, ready-to-eat items popular during
year-end holidays
October 01, 2007
Breaded scallops and stuffed clams comprise the majority of
prepared-mollusk sales, which produces a brisk business before,
during and after the year-end holidays. Prepared mollusks is a
relatively small subcategory of the prepared-seafood section of
retail seafood departments, and accounted for less than 1
percent of total department sales during the 52 weeks ending
June 30. However, average weekly sales for the subcategory did
increase, averaging $30, a 23.8 percent jump from the previous
year.
With higher-priced items such as stuffed clams and breaded
sea scallops, prepared mollusks are most commonly purchased for
special occasions such as holiday parties. As a result, sales
for the subcategory enjoyed a steady climb beginning in early
December (week ending Dec. 2, 2006) and peaked Christmas week
with $72 in average weekly sales.
Average prepared-mollusk sales began to decline in mid-April
and continued to drop throughout the summer and early fall
during the 52 weeks ending June 30. The subcategory reached
annual lows of $19 per week per store during the weeks ending
Sept. 23 and Sept. 30, 2006.
All regions reported an increase in average weekly sales
during the reporting period. The East had the highest average
weekly sales, with $91 per store, an increase of 9.3 percent
compared to the previous year. Averaging $15 per week per
store, the Central region showed strongest growth, up 62.7
percent compared to a year ago.
Nationally, prepared clams held the largest share of
prepared-mollusk sales at 41.6 percent. Prepared scallops
captured the second highest average weekly sales at 33.7
percent, followed by prepared mussels at 18.2 percent, prepared
octopus at 5.7 percent and prepared oysters at 0.8 percent.
Although prepared clams claimed the highest average weekly
sales for the year-ending June 30, prepared scallops drove
sales during the holiday season when the subcategory had peak
sales. Prepared scallops led prepared mollusk sales during
Christmas week, averaging $222 per store.