December 11, 2007

US pork board lauds 2006 pork grocery sales

Fresh pork, dinner sausage and smoked hams comprised 24 percent of total fresh meat grocery dollar sales, according to the National Pork Board (NPB).

Pork places second to beef, which had a 50 percent share, and ranks ahead of chicken, which had 20 percent share.

Pork chop is the top seller for fresh pork business, the research indicated, representing 42 percent of fresh pork's dollar sales in 2006.

Ribs got 21 percent of sales and roasts 20 percent. While seasonality plays little impact on the chop share, shifts were seen for ribs, whose share spiked during the summer months, climbing to an average of 25 percent from 17 percent during the cooler months of January through March.

Pork is the second-most cooked meat on the grill, at 23.7 percent, with ribs at 4.1 percent

and chops at 6.7 percent being the two top cuts grilled.

Seasons have reverse impact on pork roasts as higher shares are generated during cooler months, including 17 percent in the first quarter and 21 percent in the fourth, against only 13 percent in the summer months.

Ham sales are also strong on the cooler months surrounding the Easter holiday and again in December for the winter holidays, the US pork board reported.