Take your cue from 2011 sales figures and stock the fresh pork cuts your customers will be clamoring for from Memorial Day through Labor Day!

Chops are Tops for Summer Grilling

Pork chops are key for successful summer sales – they made up about 42% of total fresh pork dollar sales last summer and 37% of volume, despite category-wide price increases.

• Top loin chops usually lead the pack in chop sales. They were one of the few cuts to show a dip in price last summer, most likely due to heavy featuring. That resulted in a slight jump in volume from 2010, with essentially flat dollar sales versus year ago.

• Despite a small price increase in 2011 versus 2010, loin chops saw a rise in both dollars and volume. Rib chops performed similarly, although the increases weren’t as significant. The healthy boost in volume and dollar sales for both cuts was most likely due to modest retail price increases combined with featuring. 

Tenderloins, Spareribs and Back Ribs are Summer Stand-Outs

Don’t forget to give ribs and tenderloins plenty of space in the meat case from May through September; both are popular grilling staples that can help you keep fresh pork sales steady this summer.

• Summer sparerib sales in 2011 were still suffering from strong 2010 pricing, as shown by the 9% drop in volume. Featuring ribs at a reasonable price could help you gain back lost volume on this cut. 
  

• Back ribs were wildly popular last summer, partly because of widespread shifts to meatier product with more loin muscle included. Volume rose an eye-popping 67% and dollar sales jumped 58%. Keep rib  fever going by featuring back ribs!  
  

• Tenderloins also performed well last year, with a story similar to loin and rib chops: a nominal drop in volume and a small rise in dollar sales despite an almost 3% jump in price.
  

Keep your customers happy and your profits steady by stocking plenty of these grilling cuts in your meat case this summer!