According to the latest beef consumer report from NCBA, a contractor to the beef checkoff, demand for beef remains strong. The compilation of research from 2022 reveals that despite various challenges faced by the industry, consumers repeatedly have stated they will continue purchasing beef, both in retail and foodservice.
Current data shows more than two-thirds of consumers reportedly eat beef once a week or more. In 2022, fresh ground beef accounted for 50% of volume beef sales at retail. This trend is expected to continue as a recent survey found that 20% of consumers say they plan to purchase more ground beef in the coming year. On the foodservice front, beef sales were up significantly last year, with both dollars and volume rebounding to surpass the pre-pandemic level of 2019.
According to the report, meat substitutes continue to represent only a small percentage of the market. When it comes to protein sources, consumers consistently rank beef as a top source of protein.
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