F&B sector’s wholesale sales reach $14.115B in Aug.

Statistics Canada releases data showing that total wholesale sales in the food and beverage sector reached $14.115 billion in August 2024, combining food sales of $13.135 billion and beverage sales of $980 million.

Food sales climbed to $13.135 billion in August 2024 from $12.719 billion in the same month last year. This reflects a 3.3 per cent increase. When compared to July 2024, the sales increased by 0.3 per cent.

The beverage sector faced a slight increase in sales from $913 million in August 2023 to $980 million in August 2024, representing a 7.4 per cent surge. However, when compared to July 2024, the sales fell from $1.005 billion, representing a 2.5 per cent decline.

Despite the overall sales growth, inventories for both food and beverage categories showed mixed trends.

Food inventories fell marginally to $11.621 billion, down 0.4 per cent from $11.662 billion. In July 2024, the food inventory stood at $11,638 million, marking a decline of 0.2 per cent.

Beverage inventories also decreased to $826 million in August 2024 from $922 million in August 2023, representing a 10.5 per cent decline. In July 2024, the beverage inventory stood at $845 million, marking a decline of 2.3 per cent.