What Is a Staple Industry?

Products found within a staple industry represent a stable and continuous required product used by the general public. Food and personal hygiene items are two examples considered part of a staple industry whether in manufacturing or retail sales.

People need food to survive, so this staple is one that will never disappear. Beverages go along with food as being a necessity.

Personal hygiene products such as soap, toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo are purchased as regularly as food and are an important staple.

Laundry detergent as well as household cleaners are other items considered to be valuable staples for the public. Procter & Gamble, for example, is a large company within a staple industry.

Beer, tobacco and vitamin supplements round out the staples industry because they are purchased and used in homes regularly as part of life.

Staple industries include commodities that are traded daily on the stock market according to people's needs. Two of the top traded firms are beer maker Anheuser-Busch (BUD) and household products provider Procter & Gamble (PG).