11 Most Profitable Food Items Sold in America in 2018

We must admit our list of 11 most profitable food items sold in America in 2018 is basically a list of the highest profit margin food. If you’re a typical American consumer, this is what you’ll most probably be eating in 2018. If you’re a restaurant owner, these are the foods that you can charge very, very well.

As you have already noticed, health and wellness have become quite trendy. Wherever you go, there’s an advertisement or two about the health benefits of certain food. Manufacturers believe the key to success is labeling food with “zero sugar”, “fat-free”, “low in oil”, “gluten-free” and so on. Actually, that has nothing to do with our freedoms as consumers. Those “free” labels are only trying to limit our shopping habits into opting for a product that is, let’s say, low-fat. We’re constantly being programmed to fill our shopping cart with this restricted food (which is in contrast very rich in preservatives). But is that really working? No, not really. As you will see from our list, the most profitable items aren’t baby spinach or avocado. Sorry, food bloggers and restaurant critics. The actual truth is much more different.

Truth be told, we did research on food trends in America for 2018 and read posts by the New York Post and Fine Dining Lovers to see which would be the most profitable products to sell in 2018. Apparently, Jackfruit, coconut, and charcoal are going to be on restaurant menus in 2018 with the healthy food, vegetarianism, and veganism trend continuing. But do you honestly see an average American ordering coconut dishes every week? Hardly. Or developing a taste for moldy food? We’re not kidding, that’s the upcoming trend in upscale restaurants.

Not surprisingly, these are in such sharp contrast to the low cost products with a high profit margin for restaurants from Cheat Sheet. The list consists of 15 most overpriced foods on restaurant menus with percentages showing how much the final price is bigger than the cost of the original ingredients. However, we didn’t simply rank them from the lowest to the biggest. Firstly, we only paid attention to the ones which have specific data. Secondly, the latest information on McDonald’s banishing cheeseburgers from Happy Meals in 2018 will certainly lower the cheese consumption (cheese on cheeseburgers, to be more precise). After all, this is the most competitive fast food franchise and Happy Meals make up for 30% of their profits.

In addition to that, there are articles by Bloomberg and Quartz firmly stating that in 2018 Americans are going to eat 222 pounds of certain food (per person!). We also checked it with World Resources Institute and got a confirmation from Broaster about how inexpensive it is for a restaurant business. With these predictions, that should be the greatest high margin product for wholesale, too.

Should you be interested in 10 high margin food products to build a business around, you can read about it in our article. For those of you who are more into the most profitable products to sell on eBay or Amazon, these would be stuffed animals, seasonal items, clearance items, and things “made in occupied Japan”.

Finally, let’s see what the Americans will be munching and sipping this year according to our 11 most profitable food items sold in America in 2018!

11. Wine

By wine, we mean the second-best wine. Usually, there’s the most expensive, and the less expensive version of almost the same quality. Or so you are programmed to think.

Let’s see the top ten most profitable food items sold in America in 2018, shall we?

10. Burrito extras

This Mexican specialty is said to be so tasty it’s priceless. To make the perfect bite, Americans are willing to spend some additional cash on extra meat, guacamole or veggies.

9. Pizza toppings

Talking about delicious… For an extra piece of this and that, you pay good money compared to the amount served.

8. Eggs

Another overcharged item on our list of 11 most profitable food items sold in America in 2018. You know very well the price of a dozen eggs at the supermarket. But once they’re scrambled by a chef and added some mushrooms, it’s a costly treat.

7. Pizza

One of the most delicious meals on the planet, and you’re very much aware you’re paying much more than its real worth for some flat dough, lots of cheese, ham, pepperoni… But every slice is a piece of heaven! There’s hardly a family that doesn’t order pizza when they eat out, or they have a frozen or two at home.

6. Pasta

Surely the cost of the ingredients varies, but in the end, the base is very low-priced if you were to buy it on your own.

5. Pancakes

Basically, pancakes can be made with the cheapest ingredients possible, and with the right (inexpensive) syrup and two or three pieces of fruit, their value is increased by 900%. But who can say it’s not worth it with all the mess you’d made at home?

4. Beer and cocktails

The profit from these beverages is guaranteed. We’re talking over 1000% of markup value.

3. Soda

Once again, compare the prices in the supermarket. Or don’t, if you wish to order the drink ever again.

2. Coffee

Need we say anything? Everybody’s running around in the morning with their daily intake of caffeine, which is dirt cheap if you tear it up into basic elements.

1. Chicken

Finally, chicken tops our list of 11 most profitable food items sold in America in 2018. While so many people worldwide identify America with burgers (made of real beef, of course), the reality is much different. Believe it or not, but chicken meat consumption has been taking over beef for quite some time, and it’s continuing to do so in 2018. Who would’ve thought? Chicken meals are going to be the best selling products in the USA. Considering the size of the American market, it could be said that chicken is among the most profitable products in the world in the upcoming year.