The U.S. meat department delivered another strong year in 2025, reaching record sales and reinforcing beef’s dominant role in consumer purchasing.
According to the 2026 Power of Meat report, released at the Annual Meat Conference by the Meat Institute and FMI – The Food Industry Association, retail meat sales climbed to $111.9 billion in 2025, while volume sales increased 2%.
Overall, the report found that more than 98% of U.S. households purchase meat, with Americans buying meat and poultry more than once per week. Combined with larger basket sizes and more shopping trips, per-household spending on meat rose sharply, averaging $939.67 per buyer annually.
Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Institute, said the data highlights the continued importance of animal protein in American diets.
“Americans are more focused on making smart food choices than ever before, and this latest Power of Meat report reinforces meat’s clear and irreplaceable role at the center of healthy, convenient, affordable meals today and for generations to come,” Potts said.
Beef leads growth
Among all proteins, beef drove the majority of retail meat department gains in 2025, generating 71% of dollar growth and 57% of pound growth across the category.
Fresh beef sales reached approximately $45 billion, accounting for 40% of total meat department dollars, a share that exceeds the entire processed meat segment. Volume sales totaled about 6.2 billion pounds, up 4.3% from the previous year.
The report also found that beef purchases increased across several key retail metrics, including household penetration and shopping trips. Consumers made about 7% more beef purchasing trips compared with the previous year, highlighting strong demand even amid continued financial pressure from higher food prices.
Chicken remained the largest protein by volume, with 6.5 billion lbs. sold, followed by beef at 6.2 billion lbs. However, beef significantly outpaced other proteins in dollar growth.
Pork sales totaled $8.7 billion, while turkey reached $3.3 billion. Lamb represented a much smaller share of the category, with sales of roughly $959 million, though it posted moderate dollar growth despite a slight decline in volume.
Overall, fresh meat sales reached $79.5 billion, increasing more than 9% year over year, while processed meat generated $33.4 billion in sales.
Meat remains a household staple
The report finds that meat and poultry remain staples in American households despite continued financial pressure from higher food prices. About 68% of consumers consider meat and poultry either non-negotiable or important when making grocery trade-offs, meaning they are more likely to cut spending elsewhere before removing meat from their meals.
The report also found that consumption trends remain positive overall. While 17% of consumers said they are eating less meat and poultry than the previous year, 25% reported eating more, indicating a net increase in consumption.
At the same time, cost remains the primary reason some consumers reduce meat consumption. Among those eating less meat and poultry, 54% cited the price of meat and poultry, and 50% pointed to the overall cost of groceries and living expenses as key factors.
Rather than abandoning meat entirely, many shoppers have recalibrated their approach to purchasing it. According to the report, consumers are using a range of strategies to manage budgets while continuing to include meat in meals. The most common approach is waiting for sales or promotions, cited by 50% of shoppers, followed by 46% who shop at lower-price stores. Many consumers also reduce portion sizes, buy ground meat or less expensive cuts, or switch between proteins such as beef, chicken or pork to find better value.
Despite careful budgeting for everyday meals, consumers still make room for premium purchases when the occasion calls for it. Nearly half report spending more during holidays, while others cite celebrations, entertaining guests or purchasing favorite cuts as reasons to trade up.
The Power of Meat report concludes that the meat department remains one of the strongest performers in grocery retail, driven by strong consumer demand for protein, convenience and meal flexibility.
Rick Stein, vice president of fresh foods for FMI, said the category’s continued success reflects strong alignment with consumer priorities.
“The meat department is outperforming because it delivers what shoppers want right now: protein, flexibility, value and taste,” Stein said. “Retailers that balance convenient ground options with premium, indulgent cuts will be best positioned to capture both budget-conscious and experience-driven shoppers.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
