This Week in Retail: Tight Cold Storage Stocks Keep Prices Elevated for Many Meat Items

Pumpkin spice lovers, rejoice! Yesterday marked the first day of autumn and consumers are gearing up for cooler temperatures and hearty home-cooked meals. As we approach the fourth quarter, retailers are optimistic that fall-oriented demand will help maintain a strong consumer pull for meat and poultry products.  

For hog producers, autumn typically signals a period of seasonal expansion in supplies. Buying interest among packers who purchase hogs in the open market has slowed considerably in recent weeks, according to livestock dealers. This suggests that hog supplies overall are adequate for packers’ needs and current processing capacity, which continues to be strained by labor challenges...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Holdings Continue Year-over-Year Thaw

The latest release of July’s Cold Storage Report underscores what many players in the turkey industry already know: That supplies are tight...

ANALYSIS: July Pork in Cold Storage Breakdown

July’s USDA Cold Storage report, released on August 23^rd, showed that while progress was made in restocking the freezers for a couple of categories of cuts, there are still...

ANALYSIS: Depleted Inventories Contribute to Boneless Breast Rally

Although the chicken market environment has been anything but consistent lately, that’s not to say that there aren’t some familiar tenets still shining through...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Raw Materials Continuing to Ride Updraft

Following last year’s lack of seasonal underpinnings, marketers on the raw material side of the business are breathing a collective sigh of relief thanks in large part to what has, so far, amounted to be stout performance for whole muscle white meats and the related trim lines...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Cold Storage: Break out the Broom

Chicken marketers are breaking out the figurative brooms as they search for any additional supplies left in the freezers...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage: Hard to Sell from an Empty Wagon

After a great deal of anticipation, the latest release of USDA’s Cold Storage Report lends credence to what many participants have been suspecting, especially those who have been following Urner Barry’s Weekly Cold Storage Estimate...

ANALYSIS: Fresh and Frozen Turkey Drum Quotations at a Mid-Year Crossroads

As we round the corner to Q3, turkey marketers have a pep in their step and a glimmer in their eye thanks to the admirable trade environment that they’ve enjoyed throughout...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Reductions Coincide with Stout Market Performance

Over the past several weeks, we've covered a number of factors which are playing an influential role in constricting the supply of just about every line within the turkey complex...

ANALYSIS: April Chicken Cold Storage Holdings: A Continuation of a Familiar Trend

Several months ago, we assessed the near universal downturn in cold storage holdings exhibited by key lines within the chicken complex, and by the looks of the USDA’s most recent report...

ANALYSIS: Strong Demand Keeps Frozen Pork and Beef Inventories Tight 

According to the latest USDA monthly cold storage report, released Monday afternoon, frozen beef and pork stocks at the end of April remain...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Lends Credence to Seasonally Strong Market Environment

The most recent cold storage figures for the month of April generally fall in line with the seasonally strong undertone exhibited by just about every line within the turkey complex...

ANALYSIS: Pork Ribs Looming Near Historical Highs

Demand on all three fronts; retail, foodservice, and exports combined with labor constraints, diminished slaughter, and limited freezer stocks has supported...

ANALYSIS: March Pork Cold Storage Remains Lackluster

According to the March cold storage report from the USDA, total pork in cold storage was 26.8 percent below a year ago and noted...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Production and Cold Storage-As Goes One

In recent months, the turkey complex has experienced a surprising level of price volatility, most of which has pointed towards the upside...

ANALYSIS: Bellies Travel Upward into PEDv Levels

Bellies have done little but march higher since the beginning of 2021. Currently, rekindled interest at foodservice locations as some states relax COVID-19 restrictions, along with...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Thigh Meats Get a Leg Up

With springtime now in full swing, seasonal outreach is beginning to develop...

ANALYSIS: Pork Ribs Soar into April

Pork ribs traditionally witness a rally starting in April which extends into the summer months as increased demand for grilling reaches its peak. This year however...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage: Lending Credence to the Strong Market Climate

The latest release of February’s Cold Storage Report further validates the strong seasonal performance that most key lines within the turkey complex have exhibited...

ANALYSIS: February Pork Cold Storage – Highlights and Concerns

Pork in cold storage has been in the spotlight since last Spring when COVID-19 outbreaks resulted in a swath of pork plant closures, and the lack of...

ANALYSIS: MSC Enjoys Unseasonal Updraft in Value

It isn’t often that MSC takes the spotlight, especially so early in the year before seasonal springtime demand has a chance to fully develop, but...

ANALYSIS: Elevated Pork Retail Pricing to Start 2021

Retail demand for pork during COVID has remained heightened compared to years past due to the vast majority of foodservice locations closing or...

ANALYSIS: A Glance at End-January Pork and Beef Cold Storage Stocks

USDA monthly cold storage data released last week showed combined meat and poultry stocks held in the nation's freezer warehouses at the end of January at...

ANALYSIS: Pork Cold Storage Lingers at Low Levels

Total pork cold storage continues to linger around decade lows, creating a tight supply condition and a base layer of price support for a number of...

ANALYSIS: January Chicken Cold Storage Holdings: Talk About a Clean Sweep

Several months ago, we spoke about the near universal downturn exhibited in chicken cold storage figures and by the looks of the USDA’s most recent report, that same undertone...

ANALYSIS: An Early-Year Check-up on Turkey Cold Storage Holdings

As we turn the corner into late Q1, turkey market participants are peering into the freezer to evaluate how the supply side of the equation is fending so far this year...

ANALYSIS: Counter-seasonal Rally in Pork Belly Values

Pork bellies have noted a substantial gain since the start of the New Year, with a 41% increase from January 4^th. Despite the foodservice end of the industry remaining limited, retail demand has continued to...

ANALYSIS: Boneless Chicken Breasts in the Crosshairs

One of the first things that any Econ student quickly gets acclimated with is how the quantity of a given commodity that manufacturers want to sell and the quantity of consumers who wish to buy, interact with one another...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Prompts A Double Take

With another year under the turkey industry’s belt, players in the frozen whole bird sector are turning to the charts in an effort to hone their expectations for...

Americans to Eat Record 1.42 Billion Chicken Wings for Super Bowl LV

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. One thing that hasn’t changed: America’s love for chicken wings. This is no more apparent than on Super Bowl weekend, when Americans will devour a record 1.42 billion wings while watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle for the Lombardi Trophy.

This figure is up 2% from last year, according to the National Chicken Council’s annual Wing Report.

There are several reasons for the uptick, says National Chicken Council spokesman Tom Super. “If you think about it, restaurants like wing joints and pizza places were built around takeout and delivery, so they didn’t have to...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Wings Start Year Undefeated

With NFL playoff season at our doorstep, wing marketers are ordinarily gearing up as they prepare for one of the busiest quarters of the year...

ANALYSIS: Frozen Turkey Drums Continue to March Forward

Turkey marketers are welcoming 2021 with open arms thanks to the relatively admirable set of early-year trade conditions...

REPORTER: Q3 Pork: Hot Prices and Frigid Freezer Inventories

With COVID-19 concerns continuing throughout the third quarter and into the fourth quarter of 2020, areas such as boning-line labor, foodservice and recreational activities, cold storage, and production were all affected. The Pork Carcass Cutout noted an uncharacteristic price rally between July and October 2020, increasing by around 31.6%. Looking at the past, the 5-year and 10-year averages saw declines around 12% during this timeframe, while in 2019 the cutout saw a moderate increase of 3.8% for the respective time period...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage: A November to Remember

With November in the rear-view mirror, the time has finally come for turkey market participants to peer into the freezer and assess...

ANALYSIS: Chiming In on Chicken Leg Quarters

Those with exposure to chicken back half items are no stranger to this year’s uninspiring and highly volatile trade environment...

After Healthcare Workers, Essential Meat and Poultry Workers High Priority for COVID Vaccine

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) urged federal authorities to highly prioritize COVID-19 vaccination for the men and women who work in the meat and poultry industry, following healthcare workers and those in long term care facilities.

Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts commented:

"The men and women of the meat and poultry industry help keep America’s grocery stores stocked and our farm economy working. They should be...

ANALYSIS: The Q4 Chill: Assessing Chicken Cold Storage Inventories

The most recent release of the Cold Storage Report generally coincides with the day-to-day happenings of the chicken market, while at the same time...

Changed Beef Consumption Habits Following COVID-19 Create Opportunities

The global Covid-19 pandemic and African swine fever (ASF) have changed beef consumption patterns through 2020. While total beef consumption has not seen too much change, we have seen distribution channels change, benefiting some at the expense of others. As the impacts of ASF are overcome and disruptions from Covid-19 subside, old distribution channels will recover.

“It is likely that many consumers will revert to their previous habits, but we do see opportunities for...

COVID-19 Impacts the Turkey Market this Thanksgiving 

As coronavirus restrictions continue to impact our daily lives, it seems the holidays will be no exception. Retail and foodservice attempted to adapt to these unprecedented changes this Thanksgiving, by promoting deals with smaller birds or meals that feature turkey items instead of a whole bird.

Restaurants like Denny’s brought back its family-style Turkey and Dressing Dinner Pack, which included a carved turkey breast and sides portioned for four people. Cracker Barrel added multiple holiday meal options to the menu, with Thanksgiving meal offerings that serve...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Cold Storage Traveling Down a Well Worn Path

Not only did Monday’s release of the Cold Storage Report closely coincide with the present state of the turkey market, but it also...

ANALYSIS: An All-Encompassing View of Chicken Market Variables

In light of the unseasonal price momentum demonstrated by key items within the chicken complex, this week we thought it would be a great opportunity to...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Drums Find Their Rhythm

With November now upon us, whole body turkeys are commanding much of the seasonal spotlight, however...

ANALYSIS: What’s Going On with Tom Breast Meat?

It’s safe to say that Thanksgiving and the whole bird centric activity which typically...

ANALYSIS: SpareRibs Lingering Around PEDv 2014 Levels

Like most items throughout the fresh pork complex, spareribs underwent a significant rally from...

ANALYSIS: Whole Body Turkeys: A Return to the Norm?

Turkey processors are once again shifting into high gear as they prepare for the anticipated return of fill-in demand leading up to the big holiday...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Cold Storage: A Reflection of the Times

August’s cold storage coincide with the current market status of most major lines and serve to remind us of the supply-side challenges which marketers continue to wrestle with...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Holdings--In Tune With the Times

The most recent release of the USDA’s cold storage report helps to support the current standing of most major lines within the turkey complex while, at the same time, reflects...

ANALYSIS: Pork Cold Storage 2020 Update 

Cold Storage is a key metric that allows us to see the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had, and continues to have, on the pork market overall. The diminished production in Q2, due to...