Ohio’s urban land area is the highest among these states, totaling 10 percent; Indiana is next with slightly more than six percent of Hoosier State land classified as urban. Ohio’s higher populations help support its 30,000-acre fresh vegetable harvest (not including potatoes), the largest among the five states.
City Differentiators
Des Moines is the smallest of the six cities, but growing fast. The metro area had a phenomenal 20 percent growth spurt from 2000 to 2010 and has the highest median household income of the cities profiled here. Much of this growth has fueled demand in foodservice.
In Indianapolis, younger consumers are fueling expansion of many value-added selections.
“New restaurants and other food establishments are popping up at a record pace,” shares Gene Loffredo, president and chief executive officer of Loffredo Fresh Produce Company, Inc. in Des Moines. “We’re seeing many with a national presence enter our market due to a large amount of development in our western suburbs.”
Ethnic populations in the Midwest have risen as well, from many countries worldwide. “There have been immigrants from Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Laos, and some southeast Asian countries as well as Latin America—Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador,” comments Comito.
Capital City Fruit responded by adding a full line of chili peppers, and services many new ethnic restaurants and grocery stores in the Des Moines metro area, as well as smaller towns and communities in Iowa.
Immigrants are also boosting populations in St. Louis and Indianapolis, which saw a jump in Asian-born residents between 2010 and 2015. St. Louis, known as the Gateway to the West, is home to one of the largest Bosnian populations outside Europe, an estimated 70,000 in 2013. Some St. Louis mainline grocers, like the Supervalu Shop’n Save banner, feature Bosnian food sections.
Retail Competition Heats Up
National chains duke it out
As the literal center of the country, the Midwest is a veritable hub of many industries and activities. Grocery retail is no different, as the region has many national and regional chains, thriving independents, small mom-and-pop operations, and of course, big box stores.
