PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep 25 - Chicken Demand at Foodservice and Beyond

Just in time for March Madness, Jamie sits down with chicken market analyst, Matt Busardo, to dissect the driving forces behind this consumer-favorite category...

The Retail Rundown: Grocers Leverage Seasonal Trends; Inflation Update

As temperatures rise across much of the US, grocers are highlighting seasonal offerings for springtime occasions and grilling essentials.

Retailers are refining their marketing strategies to align with shifting demand, appealing to sports fans to boost traffic in the meat department. However, securing lower year-over-year protein prices remains a challenge, as factors like animal disease continue to affect availability across key categories.

The wholesale chicken market is gaining traction with baseball season on the horizon, driving demand for boneless items. Expana reports that buyers are scrambling to secure supply...

The Retail Rundown: September's Seasonal Shifts

Although there are about two weeks left to enjoy summer, many consider the season unofficially over following Labor Day. The retail landscape is starting to reflect this shift, where factors like cooler weather and football season are already influencing consumer demand. 

The frozen/convenience aisles and deli counters benefit from back-to-school needs and provide quick meals for busy households. Circana data indicates that prepared dishes/kits earned $18.1 million in total sales last week, up from $17.7 million the week prior. Over in lunchmeat, fresh packaged turkey retailed at $7.21 discounted, an 18-cent year-over-year decrease.  

The Retail Rundown: Summer and Back-to-School Fuel Deli Demand

As August approaches, consumers are eager to savor the last weeks of the summer season. With Labor Day weekend—the unofficial end of summer—just five weeks away, some retailers have already begun stocking up for the holiday.

In the meantime, back-to-school items, including snacks and sandwich ingredients, are beginning to appear in circulars. The deli counter is currently benefiting from summer activities as day-trippers make meals for picnics and various outings.

Last week, the lunchmeat sector generated nearly $26.8 million in total sales, up...