U.S. Meat & Poultry Market Will Approach $100 Billion in 2021

Vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets are trending, but consumer demand for beef, chicken, pork, and other animal protein continues to drive food industry sales

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Packaged Facts

May 02, 2017, 11:39 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Meat and poultry products are consumer favorites, food industry mainstays, and protein powerhouses—all factors that will keep the U.S. industry for animal protein growing despite challenges from plant protein alternatives, according to market research firm Packaged Facts.

In the brand new report Meat & Poultry: U.S. Retail Market Trends & Opportunities, Packaged Facts forecasts that total retail sales of meat, poultry, and meat substitutes will be just shy of $100 billion in 2021. Due to its higher price point, meat will dominate dollar sales despite still trailing poultry in per-capita consumption volume. Meat substitutes will account for less than $2 billion of the projected total.

Yet despite meat's popularity and projected growth, this is not an industry without its fair share of scrutiny, comments David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts.

"Meat continues to evolve and be re-evaluated by consumers in the wake of years of consciousness-raising on several topics, including humane animal treatment, meat processing, and nutrition," says Sprinkle.

Thus in the years ahead, Packaged Facts predicts consumers will be mindful of their meat consumption, whether for economic, caloric, dietary, or ecological reasons. For those who seek out sustainable meat and poultry, specialty products like grass-fed or local beef, heritage poultry and even wild boar will be on point. Consumers will look to meat professionals to connect them with these products, explain the product benefits, and educate on how these products are best prepared and served.

Consumers minding their pocketbook will take cues from how cultures around the world make less-expensive cuts like brisket taste great. Likewise, retail sales of meat will also receive a boost from growth in consumption of pork, which is expected to maintain its low cost advantage over beef. In addition, many previously overlooked cuts of pork (such as pork shoulder) are experiencing a resurgence in popularity both at retail and in restaurants. Meanwhile, retail sales of poultry are expected to increase over the ensuing five years, supported by poultry's cost advantages relative to many types of meat. A further advantage for chicken: health authorities such as the American Heart Association continue to encourage consumption of poultry and seafood as alternatives to red meat.

With convenience and portability a trend across the food and beverage industry, consumers seeking high-protein meat snacks will find a plethora of meat jerky, meat snack bars, and meat sticks available, as well as crunchy cracklings from high-quality pork, plus plant- and nut-based meat substitutes.

These are merely a few of Packaged Facts' trends on this food and beverage industry segment. Further insights are available by purchasing Meat & Poultry: U.S. Retail Market Trends & Opportunities.

About "Meat & Poultry: U.S. Retail Market Trends & Opportunities"

This report examines the current and forecasted U.S. retail market for meat and poultry products, including fresh, frozen, and processed products, as well as meat substitutes. The discussion includes key trends driving consumer purchases within this food category, including demand for locally sourced, natural, and/or organic products. Value-added products that reduce preparation steps are also appealing to busy consumers. Other major influences on the market, such as concerns over the treatment of animals, are also discussed. Long-term trends and year-to-year volatility in product prices – influenced by factors such as weather conditions and outbreaks of animal disease – significantly impact consumption patterns. Consumer attitudes regarding meat, poultry, and meat substitutes are also investigated.

View additional information about Meat & Poultry: U.S. Retail Market Trends & Opportunities, including purchase options, the abstract, table of contents, and related reports at Packaged Facts' website: https://www.packagedfacts.com/Meat-Poultry-Retail-10814499/.

More Packaged Facts food and beverage reports—including related reports such as Animal Welfare: Issues and Opportunities in the Meat, Poultry, and Egg Markets in the U.S.—are available for purchase at: https://www.packagedfacts.com/food-beverage-market-c84/.

About Packaged Facts

Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics, including consumer demographics and shopper insights, consumer financial products and services, consumer goods and retailing, consumer packaged goods, and pet products and services. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services.

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SOURCE Packaged Facts