Beef-eating consumers are extremely loyal, said Rikki Ingram, director of beef and pork marketing for Tyson Foods.

Demand for beef is strong across the board, Ingram added, whether it’s grinds, blends, premium, value or value-added.

“Consumers want to be creative in the kitchen, especially if they’re dining out less. Grinds are popular due to their versatility, and we’re also seeing interest in flavor-infused patties like bacon or cheddar-infused patties that introduce distinct flavors with minimal effort.”

When it comes to steaks, Tyson is seeing higher demand for alternative cuts like top sirloin, flat iron and ranch steaks.

Among the top attributes consumers cite when they make their beef purchases are value, color, flavor and appropriate packaging size.

Another trend Tyson is tracking closely is the ever-increasing acceptance of case-ready beef products.

“Case ready packaging is perceived as equal in quality to meat cut in-store,” Ingram said, citing Power of Meat 2024 data. “Younger shoppers especially prefer the flexibility and convenience that case-ready meats offer.”

Tyson is meeting the strong demand for case-ready beef with its new line of Chairman’s Reserve Platinum case-ready angus products, which features the top one-third of the company’s Choice angus.

The line offers the three most popular premium cuts Tyson sells: ribeye, New York strip and T-bone.

“The demand for case ready packaging continues to evolve,” Ingram said. 

“Whether shopping in-store or online, consumers are looking for freezer-ready, leakproof packaging that keeps their meat purchases fresher longer.”

This article is an excerpt from the July 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Beef feature and more in the digital edition here.