Power of Meat Report Includes Good News for Lamb

The 2022 Power of Meat annual report is out, and there’s good news for lamb. The report summarizes a survey that “looks at meat through the shopper’s eyes,” and addresses all meat, imported and domestic, sold through retail food outlets during 2021. It is the 17th year of The Power of Meat report, sponsored by CRYOVAC and presented at the 2022 Annual Meat Conference.

Lamb gained in pounds purchased by U.S. consumers in 2021 over 2020. Beef leads in total sales, but lamb sales in 2021 increased 4.3% over 2022, and 19% over 2019, to hit 60 million pounds. Dollar sales grew to $534 million, an 11.7% increase over 2020 and 35.4% over 2019.

Restaurant dining is returning after 2 years of a pandemic, but 61% of consumers continue to cut back on restaurant spending, with 62% of those people trying to recreate the experience at home.

“That’s a great fit for lamb, and the American Lamb Board’s (ALB) efforts at reaching consumers through social media with practical cooking tips and ideas,” says ALB Chairman Peter Camino of Buffalo, Wyoming.

The report shows nearly 75% of American consumers describe themselves as meat-eaters, echoing the sentiment that meat belongs in a healthy, balanced lifestyle. But the pandemic, inflation, and supply chain issues are driving consumers to buy meat less often and pay more when they do. The year 2020 was record-setting for meat dollar sales; 2021 topped it by 0.3%. Meanwhile, total meat volume sales declined 5.6% from 2020 to 2021. Compared with 2019’s pre-pandemic numbers, dollars increased 18.5% and volume increased 3.9% in 2021.

The report also includes information and insights on where consumers buy meat including online sales, meat sales promotions, and product claims that are important to consumers i.e. nutrition, country of origin, and sustainability. The report indicates inflation will likely continue to be a factor for meat sales into 2022. Total meat sales in price per pound are up 6.4% since 2020, and 14.5% since 2019.

For a copy of the complete study contact rae@americanlamb.com.