I posted in our new Meat Cutter Recource Pages several days ago showing how the annual per capita-consumption of beef came down and chicken consumption went up since 1965.
In 1965 Americans ate 37 pounds of chicken annually. The projection for 2015 is set at an all time high of 90 pounds per person annually.
In 1965 Americans ate 75 pounds of beef annually. The projection for 2015 is set at an all time low of 54 pounds per person annually.
Beef consumption has fell just about every year since 1965 and chicken consumption has steadily increased since 1965.
When you stop for a minute and look at these numbers "they are staggering". The decline of beef amounts to 28%. While the percentage increase in chicken went up by 141%.
Let us all suppose that these USDA numbers are accurate and if they are, how have they impacted our trade as meat-cutters? Lets find our by sharing our thoughts by answering these 10 questions
Questions:
1) What do you think brought about this unbelievable increase in chicken consumption over beef during the last 50 years?
2) How have these numbers affected you personally as a meat cutter at store level, if at all.
3) Do you believe that meat department labor hours have been affected positively or negatively because of this huge increase in chicken consumption.
4) What about display area. More for chicken, or less for beef? Expanded space for chicken or decrease space for beef?
5) With the selling price of beef being much greater than the selling price of chicken (and if your chicken sales have gone up and your beef sales have gone down). Do you feel this turn-around has affected your dollars per man hour quotas or standards?
6) Do you mark down more chicken or beef?
7) Do you know what your chicken sales are vs. beef sales?
8) If given a choice would you go back to "fresh bulk pack whole body fryers and fresh bulk packed parts"?
9) How many chicken items on display in your store vs. beef items?
10) How is the customer- flow set up in your meat department display area? Where is the chicken display vs. the beef display?
WHEN GIVING YOUR FEEDBACK JUST USE THE NUMBERS BECAUSE IT WILL SAVE YOU TIME RATHER THAN WRITING OUT THE QUESTIONS AGAIN!
we have demonstrate time after time we make more money out of ice pack chickens, we sell more chicken then the major chain store with pre pack. I have friends working in two chains and they tell me that customers tell them they buy their chicken only from us.
we go through 25 cases of ice pack every Friday and Saturday morning to set up and have ready racks ready for the week end.
we have demonstrate time after time we make more money out of ice pack chickens, we sell more chicken then the major chain store with pre pack. I have friends working in two chains and they tell me that customers tell them they buy their chicken only from us.
we go through 25 cases of ice pack every Friday and Saturday morning to set up and have ready racks ready for the week end.
Wow, that is really something Ky. Can you elaborate a little about what you do with the 25 cases; examples, parts, cut-up fryers, splits etc. Also do you have a separate cutting area for ice pack chicken. Really appreciate it.
1. Yes, nuggets are popular. I think also the price of chicken makes sales grow v. beef and also the supposition chicken is healthier. The spread of chicken has grown and prepack is easy and fast to stock and replenish. Coalcracker, you should write a book about the biz.
1. Yes, nuggets are popular. I think also the price of chicken makes sales grow v. beef and also the supposition chicken is healthier. The spread of chicken has grown and prepack is easy and fast to stock and replenish. Coalcracker, you should write a book about the biz.
Hey Allen; you know what they say; if you copy from a single person it is called plagiarism and that's illegal however, if you copy from several sources its called research! That's legal. LOL>LOL>. Real seriousness in regard to writing is one of two absolute necessities. The other, unfortunately, is talent. LOL>LOL> All that being said thanks for the complement!
Hey Allen; you know what they say; if you copy from a single person it is called plagiarism and that's illegal however, if you copy from several sources its called research! That's legal. LOL>LOL>. Real seriousness in regard to writing is one of two absolute necessities. The other, unfortunately, is talent. LOL>LOL> All that being said thanks for the complement!
LOl, the rules have changed, you can write nothing, take credit for the paper, copy one to a million writers, only need a proper "citation" for each one !
Our sales have decreased however our margin has gone up because of the chicken which we carry and it does take up a lot of space. Beef and pork sell at a higher price than chicken and the area I am at we have many cultures that shy away from pork and beef and tend to buy more fish and chicken. Pork sausage that we make in house still sells better than chicken.
Our sales have decreased however our margin has gone up because of the chicken which we carry and it does take up a lot of space. Beef and pork sell at a higher price than chicken and the area I am at we have many cultures that shy away from pork and beef and tend to buy more fish and chicken. Pork sausage that we make in house still sells better than chicken.
Well Greg, I couldn't have explained the phenomenal growth of chicken consumption better. Your are an economist and don't even know it! LOL>
You hit the preverbal nail on the head.
Consumption isn't just driven by consumers, it is driven by retailers too! When you look the variety of fresh meat products including chicken in our meat departments one has to ask themselves this very important question; "where do I make the most money" for my labor dollars! And chicken is the best game in town.
So from a top-management or owner perspective this is what their thinking.
a) you don't need skilled labor to sell pre-packed chicken
b) price per pound is not a deterrent for customers, everybody can afford chicken; rich and poor alike
c) much lower inventory dollar-cost carry-over than beef or pork
d) we sell chicken either fresh, frozen or cooked in our stores
e) because of all the above advantages we are going to expand our display areas
f) the whole world advertises chicken for us. Example: like turkeys are for Thanksgiving, we now have chicken wings for Super Bowl Sunday! 1.25 billion wings were eaten during Super Bowl Sunday 2014.
Total sales for chicken wings alone 2014 $1.7 billion dollars
