Beef Marketplace Update 

Beef Continues to Lead Fresh Meat in Retail Value Growth

• Beef remains the economic engine of the fresh meat case, showing double‑digit dollar growth across all major time periods.
• 52‑week beef dollar sales: $45.1B, up 12.4%
• Last 13‑weeks: up 11.3%
• Last 4‑weeks: up 10.5%
• This growth outperforms chicken, pork, and turkey, reinforcing beef’s premium position and ongoing consumer demand.

Ground Beef is the Standout Growth Driver

• Beef Fresh Ground shows the strongest momentum among beef categories:
• Dollar sales up 14.1% (52‑week) and 16%+ in both the 13‑ and 4‑week periods
• Volume also growing modestly (+3.1% over 52 weeks) despite higher prices
• Price per pound up sharply (10.6% to 15.2% increases)
• Implication: Consumers continue to shift toward ground formats for value and versatility
  

Beef Steaks Sales Remain High, But Feeling Some Volume Pressure

• Dollar sales up 10.2% (52‑week)
  
• Volume is softening: 
  
• Volume down 3.4% (13‑week) and down 6% (4‑week)
• Price increases are significant (+7.7% to +8.6%), suggesting consumers are still buying—but at smaller quantities or selectively.
• Implication: Premium cuts remain resilient, though price sensitivity is increasing.

 Roasts, Brisket & Value‑Add Categories Show Solid Momentum

• Roasts
• Strong price and volume growth across all
• Indicates ongoing interest in at‑home cooking and meal prep.
• Brisket
• Mixed signals: dollar sales rising (up 6–16%), but volume uneven (down in longer periods yet +8.6% in 4‑week)
• Value-Added Beef
• Consistently strong growth in both value and volume across all periods; double‑digit dollar growth in 13‑ and 4‑weeks
• Implication: Convenience‑oriented beef products are gaining traction and likely attracting time‑pressed consumers.

Beef’s Price Per Pound Continues to Climb

• Beef’s average price per pound:
• $7.22 (52‑week), up 7.7%
• $7.40 (13‑week), up 8.2%
• $7.67 (4‑week), up 8.7%
• Compared to other meats, beef remains the highest‑priced protein but continues to sustain demand.

Competitive Landscape: Beef Outperforms Other Proteins

• Across all timeframes:
• Chicken: low‑mid single‑digit growth in dollars and volume
• Turkey & Pork: flat to moderate growth; volume declines in recent periods
• Meat Alternatives: sharp long‑term declines in both value and volume
• Implication: The competitive set is holding steady relative to beef, offering producers more pricing power and category influence.

Bottom Line for Beef

• Beef is winning on value, holding volume, and commanding higher prices across the board.
• The category is healthy and growing, driven especially by ground beef and value‑added offerings, while steaks remain premium but slightly pressured on volume. Pricing strength suggests consumers continue to prioritize beef.
• This environment positions beef producers' processors well for 2026—particularly those leaning into:
• Ground beef and versatile formats
• Value‑added, convenience‑focused products
• Strategic pricing and mix optimization

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