8 specialty food stocks to watch

The best specialty food stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals—while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look to stocks with steadier gains over time.

8 popular specialty food stocks to watch

We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the health food industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap stocks.

1. Sprouts Farmers Market LLC (SFM)
2. Beyond Meat (BYND)
3. The Hain Celestial Group (HAIN)
4. Lifeway Foods (LWAY)
5. SunOpta (STKL)
6. Amazon-com (AMZN)
7. United Natural Foods (UNFI)
8. Burcon NutraScience Corporation (BU)

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The specialty food stocks industry is affected by a range of complex factors such as trade policies, regulations, and fluctuating supply and demand. So when considering specialty food stocks to buy, it's important that you have access to vital information about a company's financial health, leadership team, and market positioning.

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How to invest in specialty food stocks

1. Choose an online stock trading platform. Choose from our Top Picks above, use our comparison table below or jump straight to the best stock trading apps in Canada.
2. Sign up for an account. Provide your personal information and sign up.
3. Set up a funding method to pay for the transaction. Deposit funds into your account by linking your banking information.
4. Choose the stocks you want to buy. Search for the stock by name or ticker symbol like SFM or BYND.
5. Place your order. Buy the stock. It's that simple.

Learn more about popular specialty food stocks

We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the health food industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap US stocks.

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1. Sprouts Farmers Market LLC (SFM)

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retailing of fresh, natural, and organic food products under the Sprouts brand in the United States. It offers perishable product categories, including fresh produce, meat and meat alternatives, seafood, deli, bakery, floral, and dairy and dairy alternatives; and non-perishable product categories, such as grocery, vitamins and supplements, bulk items, frozen foods, beer and wine, and natural health and body care.

• Previous close price: $131.70
• Market capitalization: $13,517,824,000
• 1 year performance: 172.61%
• P/E ratio: 39.0723

Buy SFM stock on Interactive Brokers

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2. Beyond Meat (BYND)

Beyond Meat, Inc. , a plant-based meat company, engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of plant-based meat products under the Beyond brand name in the United States and internationally. The company sells a range of plant-based meat products that replicates beef, pork, and poultry meats.

• Previous close price: $3.55
• Market capitalization: $237,992,048
• 1 year performance: -64.14%

Buy BYND stock on Interactive Brokers

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3. The Hain Celestial Group (HAIN)

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells organic and natural products in United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and internationally. The company offers infant formula; infant and toddler formula, infant cereals, baby food pouches, snacks and frozen toddler and kids' foods; frozen desserts and plant-based beverages such as soy, rice, oat, and spelt; and condiments, as well meat-free dishes and meals.

• Previous close price: $6.42
• Market capitalization: $643,083,904
• 1 year performance: -39.09%

Buy HAIN stock on Interactive Brokers

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4. Lifeway Foods (LWAY)

Lifeway Foods, Inc. produces and markets probiotic-based products in the United States and internationally. Its primary product is drinkable kefir, a cultured dairy product in various organic and non-organic sizes, flavors, and types.

• Previous close price: $22.89
• Market capitalization: $348,632,256
• 1 year performance: 90.75%
• P/E ratio: 27.3605

Buy LWAY stock on Interactive Brokers

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5. SunOpta (STKL)

SunOpta Inc. engages in manufacture and sale of plant-based and fruit-based food and beverage products in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company provides plant-based beverages utilizing oat, almond, soy, coconut, rice, hemp, and other bases under the Dream and West Life brands; oat-based creamers under the SOWN brand; ready-to-drink protein shakes; and nut, grain, seed, and legume based beverages; packaged teas and concentrates; and meat and vegetable broths and stocks.

• Previous close price: $7.73
• Market capitalization: $879,913,920
• 1 year performance: 57.43%

Buy STKL stock on Interactive Brokers

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6. Amazon-com (AMZN)

Amazon. com, Inc. engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally.

• Previous close price: $224.92
• Market capitalization: $2,318,768,013,312
• 1 year performance: 45.99%
• P/E ratio: 47.1197

Buy AMZN stock on Interactive Brokers

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7. United Natural Foods (UNFI)

United Natural Foods, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Wholesale and Retail.

• Previous close price: $25.88
• Market capitalization: $1,586,058,496
• 1 year performance: 57.23%

Buy UNFI stock on Interactive Brokers

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8. Burcon NutraScience Corporation (BU)

Burcon NutraScience Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops plant proteins and ingredients for use in the food and beverage industries in Canada. The company offers Peazazz and Peazac, a pea protein for use in dairy alternatives, ready-to-drink beverages, dry blended beverages, bars, baked goods, and meat substitute products; Puratein, a canola protein isolate use for meat alternatives, such as burgers, sausages, and nutrition bars; and Supertein, a canola protein for use in non-dairy frozen desserts, egg alternative, plant-based marshmallows, and ready-to-mix beverages, whipped toppings, and plant-based bars. It also provides Nutratein, a canola protein comprising a mixture of globulin and albumin proteins for use in meat and egg alternatives, and other plant-based functional foods; and CLARISOY, a soy protein for use in sports nutrition beverages, citrus-based drinks, fruit-flavored beverages, lemonades, powdered beverage mixes, and non-beverage plant-based products.

• Previous close price: C$0.08
• Market capitalization: $13,798,400
• 1 year performance: -63.64%

Buy BU stock on Interactive Brokers

Buy specialty food stocks from these online trading platforms

Compare special offers, low fees and a wide range of investment options among top trading platforms.

Note: The dollar amounts in the table below are in Canadian dollars.

Finder Score for stock trading platforms

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Trading costs, account fees and features across 10+ stock trading platforms and apps are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the platform - simple.

Read the full methodology

Related: Compare the best stock trading platforms in Canada

Bottom line

While it's possible to turn a profit investing in specialty food stocks, keep in mind that—like any investment—specialty food stocks are not immune to risk. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions both in the market and in the health food industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest. If you're new to investing or if it's been a while since you've taken a critical look at your investment accounts, compare brokers to make sure you're getting the best trading features for your needs.

Related: How to buy stocks in Canada

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades.