Anthony Albright

Power of Meat Report: Fresh Meat Purchases Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels

March 7, 2023
Despite rising food and beverage pricing, a large group of consumers remains committed to purchasing meat and poultry products.

Americans are buying more fresh meat than before the COVID-19 pandemic and are seeking value in terms of price, convenience and better-for attributes in meat purchases, according to the 18th annual Power of Meat report released by the Meat Institute and FMI — The Food Industry Association.

The report also shows that meat purchases by volume did not drop significantly (down 2.5% from 2021 volume) even with rising food and beverage prices over the last year applying pressure to consumers’ budgets. Instead of bypassing meat entirely, many consumers adjusted, with 76% of consumers altering the amount, type, cut and/or brand of meat purchased, or changing where they shopped for meat. Forty-two percent focused on buying only the amount of meat needed, 35% looked for coupons and another 35% stocked up on meat when it was on sale.

However, of the 33% of Americans who are looking to eat less meat or chicken, approximately half cited cost as the primary reason (up from 16% in 2020).

According to the report, product quality and appearance still drive meat purchase decisions above all other factors, followed by price per pound and total package price.

The Power of Meat study was conducted by 210 Analytics on behalf of FMI — The Food Industry Association and the Meat Institute’s Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.

Sponsored Recommendations

Recipe for successful growth: Schneider’s dedicated fleet services helps bakery rise

Learn how a large bakery company complimented their private fleet with Schneider Dedicated freight services to increase freight capacity, amplify visibility & reduce costs.

How to keep your refrigerated freight fresh

When shipping perishables, having the proper equipment is crucial. Here are the top features of a reefer trailer that can keep your refrigerated freight fresh.

The benefits of shipping refrigerated freight with a dedicated provider

There’s a low margin of error when shipping refrigerated freight. Read how a dedicated shipping provider can solve the biggest food and beverage challenges.

What is dedicated transportation?

Dedicated transportation can provide consistent freight capacity. Learn all about the benefits of dedicated freight shipping and see if it's right for you.