Analysis
NAICS 4452 is the 2022 industry group for specialty food retailers, part of 445 (Food and Beverage Retailers). Census lists 36 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 23,926 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 166,164 people at an average annual payroll of $27,293 per employee (2nd percentile of national industries). 55% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 3rd of the 3 codes at this level within Food and Beverage Retailers, with 14.9% of them.
Across its national industries Census lists 36 index entries; typical ones are fruit and vegetable stands, permanent, baked ham stores, fish markets and baked goods (not made on premises) stores.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 8% and employment rose 4%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
It splits into 4 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 44529 (Other Specialty Food Retailers) with 12,085.
Official definition
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing specialized lines of food not for immediate consumption.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (36)
- Fruit and vegetable stands, permanent
- Baked ham stores
- Fish markets
- Baked goods (not made on premises) stores
- Candy stores, packaged, retailing only
- Bottled water providers, direct selling