U.S. Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing Market Size & Share Analysis - Emerging Trends, Growth Opportunities, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

U.S. Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing Market Trends & Drivers

Shift toward Premium and Organic Products Is Key Trend

• The meat processing industry in the U.S. is increasingly prioritizing health, sustainability, and animal welfare.
• The increasing awareness of the quality of food, concerns over the use of antibiotics and hormones, and the surging knowledge of the negative impact of animal husbandry on the environment raise the demand for premium, organic, grass-fed, and antibiotic-free meat.
• As per reports, animal husbandry releases 64% of the ammonia emissions in the world.
• Another study says that 88% of the emissions from this sector emerge on the farm, with only 12% attributed to processing activities.
• Concerns over the humane treatment of the animals raise the demand for meat produced using less-painful and -uncomfortable ways of slaughtering.
• Another key area of concern is zoonotic diseases, with 60% of all infections in humans being of animal origin.
• Higher disposable incomes allow consumers to afford these costly products, encouraging processors to expand their premium and organic product lines.

Increasing Consumer Demand for Protein-Rich Diets Drives Market

• Consumers in the U.S. are health-consciousness, which leads to an increasing demand for high-protein diets for weight management, muscle development, and overall wellness.
• Meet, beef, and poultry are good natural sources of proteins, making them essential components of many popular diets, such as keto, paleo, and high-protein meal plans.
• The U.S. is among the largest consumers of meat in the world, recording over 120 kg per capita.
• Chicken, beef, and pork are cornerstones of the American diet, with a huge number of barbeque, fine-dining, diner, café, and casual family restaurants serving an array of dishes.
• A big barbeque in the backyard on a crisp summer day is a popular activity and way to socialize in the country.
• The rich culture of innovating and experimenting with food has led to thousands of meat dishes of all kinds, including roasted, braised, fried, smoked, confit, and poached.
• Almost 70 million Americans go to the gym, and they are key consumers of meat, as exercising demands a protein-rich diet.

U.S. Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing Market Segmentation and Category Analysis

Animal Type Analysis

The poultry category is the largest, with 60% share, in 2024. This is because it is a low-fat and low-cholesterol substitute for red meats, such as beef and pork. It fits easily into American diets and works well for everything from fast food to gourmet cooking. The poultry industry is growing due to the improvements in breeding, feeding, and processing, which make raising poultry more efficient and affordable. Moreover, turkeys are deep-rooted in American culture, with over 45 million being eaten on Thanksgiving.

The animal types analyzed in this report are:

• Beef
• Pork
• Poultry (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Duck
• Lamb and Goat
• Others

Product Type Analysis

The fresh category is the largest, with 40% share in 2024. Many people prefer meat over other types of food because of its quality, flavor, and versatility. Most homes and businesses consume fresh meat. Fresh meat is the easiest to cook with as it is raw and unflavored, which is why it can be cooked in any way and used for any kind of dish.

The processed category will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is because of the increasing demand for convenience foods due to hectic lives and fast-living attitudes. As per studies, over 50% of the calorie intake of the U.S. population is from ultra-processed food. Nowadays, people rush to find easy and ready-to-eat meals, to fit into their busy lifestyles. Processed meat products, including sausages, bacon, deli meats, and pre-cooked meals, are already too popular.

The product types analyzed in this report are:

• Fresh (Larger Category)
• Chilled
• Frozen
• Canned
• Processed (Fastest-Growing Category)
  • Sausages
  • Deli Meats
  • Bacon

Distribution Channel Analysis

The hypermarkets/supermarkets category held the largest market share, of 45%, in 2024. This is because of the convenience, variety, and accessibility of hypermarkets and supermarkets, which allow shoppers to buy meat items with groceries and other items in one trip. They offer all kinds of meat options, such as fresh, frozen, and processed, to meet the tastes of different consumer groups. They also have strong supply chains, low prices, and frequent promotions. Their presence in urban and suburban areas makes them easily accessible.

The online retail category will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing usage of e-commerce for grocery shopping because of home delivery, subscription services, and easier access to premium and specialty meats drive the market. The improvement in cold-chain logistics and packaging has enhanced the quality and freshness of the meat delivered to customers, resolving concerns regarding online meat purchases. As per the Census Bureau, the value of online retail sales in the country stood at USD 300.2 billion in 2025 Q1.

The distribution channels analyzed in this report are:

• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets (Largest Category)
• Convenience Store
• Specialty Stores
• Online Retail (Fastest-Growing Category)

End User Analysis

The foodservice industry held the largest market share, of 55%, in 2024. This is because of the high footfall at restaurants, hotels, catering services, and other food businesses. As per studies, over 50% of the Americans eat out at least three times a week, while around 30% do so once a week.

The household consumers category will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is because of the growing demand for ready-to-eat, premium meat products, increasing popularity of homecooked meals, and advent of online grocery shopping. The rising health consciousness and awareness of nutrition is leading households to cook high-quality, protein-rich diets consisting of meat themselves. As per a study, over 40% of the people in the country always cook at home.

The end users in this report are:

• Household Consumers (Fastest Growing Category)
• Foodservice Industry (Largest Category)
• Industrial Users

U.S. Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing Market Geographical Analysis

The South region held the largest market share, of 35%, in 2024. This is due to its strong agricultural and animal husbandry sector and the presence of numerous slaughtering and processing facilities. Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina are major production centers for beef and poultry in the country.

The West region has the highest CAGR, of 3.5%, during the forecast period. This is because of the increase in the number of consumers willing to pay for meat products that are organic and sustainably sourced. This is primarily due to the rising health- and environment-consciousness in California. The West also has many meat processing, startups, a growing food service industry, and increasing demand for processed and ready-to-eat meat products.

The geographical breakdown of the market is as follows:

• Northeast
• West (Fastest-Growing Region)
• Midwest
• South (Largest Region)

U.S. Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing Market Competitive Landscape

The market is fragmented because of the large number of small players in the market. Although major players, such as Tyson Food, JBS USA, Cargill, and Smithfield Foods, occupy significant shares, there are also several small-to-medium-sized enterprises that serve local or specialized markets. These smaller players often specialize in organic, grass-fed, and halal-certified meats, to meet the needs of specific consumers.

U.S. Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing Market News & Updates

• In April 2025, Hormel Foods Corporation partnered with The Walt Disney Company to create collectible tin cans for its SPAM brand in celebration of the latter’s live-action movie Lilo & Stitch.
• In April 2025, Wayne-Sanderson Farms entered into a partnership with BinSentry for animal feed supply chain enhancement. Under the partnership, BinSentry’s ProSense Feed sensors will be installed on feed bins situated at all the former’s poultry processing facilities.
• In January 2025, Perdue Farms announced that it is incorporating the NestBorn concept into its broiler processing operations. The approach involves hatching one-day-old chickens in a barn instead of a hatchery.
• In September 2024, JBS USA partnered with GreenGasUSA for renewable natural gas production at several beef and chicken processing units. The project will collect methane from wastewater streams at JBS plants, employing GreenGasUSA's on-site upgrading system that can purify biogas to pipeline-ready renewable gas.