Fresh Beef Drives Major Surge in September Meat Sales, Ground Meat and Poultry Also on the Rise
September brought a notable uptick in meat sales across the board, with overall category sales increasing by over 5% compared to the same period last year, totaling $7.9 billion.
The fresh meat sector saw the most significant growth, hitting $5.6 billion and posting an 8% rise. Notably, fresh beef sales outpaced other categories, growing nearly 11% year-over-year and passing the $3 billion mark.
The Circana report, released in collaboration with 210 Analytics, highlighted that both the demand for fresh beef and a shift toward home-based meals contributed to this surge.
Holiday-driven demand also played a pivotal role. The first week of September saw a particularly high volume of purchases, likely tied to Labor Day gatherings, marking a robust start to the month.
Consumer trends indicate a heightened preference for fresh meats like beef, pork, and turkey, with fresh pork bringing in around $660 million and fresh turkey sales nearing $200 million, both with over 5% increases.
Fresh lamb experienced the biggest jump in volume, with a nearly 11% increase from September 2023.
Processed meats, on the other hand, showed a more mixed performance. While total sales in this subcategory remained flat, there was a slight increase in the volume sold, which climbed by around 1%.
Within processed meats, certain items performed better than others. Packaged lunch meats saw a decline of 3% in both sales and volume, while items like bacon, dinner sausage, and processed chicken showed gains.
Processed chicken, in particular, stood out with a volume increase of over 13%, pointing to consumer interest in versatile, protein-rich options for at-home meals.
Ground meats also added strength to September’s numbers. Ground beef sales rose by nearly 10%, reaching $1.2 billion. However, ground lamb did not share this trend, as its sales declined sharply by over 15%, with a 25% drop in volume.
This shift suggests that while ground meats remain a staple in households, consumer preferences lean more towards beef than lamb.
Year-to-date figures for 2024 reflect a consistent upward trend, with meat department sales at $76.8 billion as of September, representing a 4.4% increase from the same period in 2023.
This growth is accompanied by a 2.1% increase in the total volume purchased, demonstrating a sustained consumer interest in fresh and wholesome protein sources.
The report underscores how seasonal and holiday shopping patterns influence meat sales, particularly fresh varieties, underscoring consumers’ preference for high-quality animal proteins for home-cooked meals.
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