American visa, residency, giving growth in ethnic food industries

The company has said sales of ethnic food has grown by more than 17 per cent between 2004 and 2009, with this year expected to hit the record high of $2.1 billion.

The Mintel report said that most of that food — 62 per cent — is Mexican, but increases are being seen in Indian food, which grew by 11 per cent from 2006 to 2008, and Asian (Oriental) food, which also grew by 11 per cent in that period.

Senior Mintel analyst David Browne said since 2005 more than a million immigrants have moved from American visas to become permanent, legal United States residents.

Mr Browne said this group is “influencing the American palate and piquing Americans’ interest in new cuisines.”

The American Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in American visa and immigration services.