The Saudi retail food sector has been rapidly expanding in the last five years in response to increased competition and changing consumer lifestyle. In 2013, about 45 new supermarkets and hypermarketsand 525 neighbor stores were added to a growing number of retail food outlets in the Kingdom. Saudifood retailers offer a wide range of food products, from locally produced foods to imported upscale specialty products. U.S. exports of consumer-oriented products to Saudi Arabia have been steadilyrising, reaching $475 million in 2012, and were 7.4 percent higher than exports in 2011. The fast expansion of the Saudi retail food outlets provides an excellent opportunity for the U.S. suppliers of consumer products to further their exports into Saudi Arabia. This report provides an update on the Saudi retail food market structure as well as needed information for U.S. exporters who are considering entering this fast growing market.
