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State of Pork

Shrinking meal budgets, rising food costs, and cautious spending by anxious consumers all had an impact on the retail meat case in 2011, and fresh pork was not immune to the effects of last year’s uncertain economy.

Here’s how fresh pork fared in 2011 compared to 2010 figures:
• Dollar sales of fresh pork cuts increased 1.9% to $4.6 billion
• Volume across all fresh pork categories decreased 7.8% to 1.6 billion pounds
• Average retail price increased 10.6% to $2.85
Pork’s strong dollar sales and drop in volume reflect the higher pricing, possibly coupled with less featuring and fewer deep discounts; consumers weren’t buying as much pork because it was more expensive.
 
 
What's the outlook for 2012?  We've studied the numbers and the forecast is sunny for pork! 

Check out our findings and learn how to make the most of pork's prime spot in the meat case.
  
 
 
2011 Fresh Meat Summary
Selected Fresh Meat Segments Fresh Meat Dollars
2011
Fresh Meat Volume
2011
Average Price
2001
$ Sales (Millions) % Change vs. 2010 Lb Sales (Millions) % Change vs. 2010 Avg Price % Change vs. 2010
Pork Chops $2,035 2.80% 640 -4.20% $3.18 7.30%
     Bone In Chops $1,095 2.10% 387 -6.60% $2.83 9.30%
     Boneless Chops $940 3.50% 252 -0.30% $3.73 3.80%
Pork Ribs $1,158 -1.00% 416 -12.50% $2.79 13.20%
Pork Roasts $543 6.80% 235 -8.40% $2.32 16.60%
Pork Tenderloins $286 1.40% 58 -5.70% $4.91 7.60%
Pork Steaks $166 2.70% 68 -13.70% $2.43 19.00%
Pork Whole/Half Loins $240 -3.30% 101 -11.30% $2.38 8.90%
Total of Above $4,429 1.80% 1,518 -8.20% $2.92 10.90%
All Other Fresh Pork $165 0.00% 97 0.00% $1.70 0.00%
Total Fresh Pork $4,594 1.90% 1,614 -7.80% $2.85 10.60%
All Other Pork $1,762 2.70% 748 -3.30% $2.36 6.30%
Total Pork $6,356 2.20% 2,363 -6.50% $2.69 9.20%
 
 

   
Total Fresh Beef $10,152 -0.20% 2,076 -10.60% $4.89 11.50%
Total Fresh Chicken $7,338 1.00% 3,570 -1.90% $2.06 3.00%
Source: FreshLook Marketing/VM Meat Solutions, 2011 vs. 2010.

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