The latest numbers show beef demand is up 15 percent since 2012 and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is predicting strong consumer demand to continue through the end of this year. As a matter of fact, U.S. consumers are expected to consume nearly 9 percent more beef this year than they did back in 2015. And according to information provided by Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), more consumers are choosing beef when they go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner. 97 percent of restaurants report offering beef dishes, which has been shown to increase restaurant traffic by 45 percent.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, oversees the iconic Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand, which is a platform that not only promotes beef, but also monitors market trends and obtains consumer insights. Each year, a foodservice volumetric study is conducted through the iconic brand. It measures operator purchases and distributor sales of beef and other proteins across all foodservice operator segments. And numbers show that beef is the most prominent ingredient at these establishments, accounting for 16 percent of total foodservice food and non-alcohol purchases.
But according to CBB, for the beef industry to remain successful, it must recognize what consumers want. According to the checkoff-funded Consumer Beef Tracker, people are more likely to feel positive about beef and more likely to eat beef more often when they are aware of the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand. With the checkoff gaining insight and data into market trends and consumer interests, the beef industry is better equipped to meet purchasing trends. Beef Checkoff research is identifying market opportunities and utilizing dollars to promote beef within different segments of the foodservice and retail chain. More information can be found at beefboard.org.