Exclusivity and niche appeal drive this ultra-small group of U.S. specialty food shoppers, with just 13,143 households who are highly selective in their purchases. They favor independent specialty brands, artisanal producers, and hard-to-find gourmet items, often shopping at boutique retailers or directly from makers. Unlike mainstream specialty food buyers, they seek out unique, handcrafted foods and have little interest in mass-market specialty brands.
