Meat & poultry industry comprises companies that processes and sells fresh cuts of meat such as beef, pork, chicken and turkey, as well as products such as bacon, sausage, and hot dogs. The fresh meat and poultry serve as points of differentiation among food retailers that build up these departments as an important way that supermarkets and other retail food formats compete. The meat, beef and poultry processing has medium concentration of ownership as the four largest companies account for approximately 38% of the domestic market in the US. The importance of meat departments for revenue of the stores and differentiation is a an important and key reason why supermarkets emphasize privately labeled meats.

The meat consumption across the globe has been growing at a steady rate as the benefits and advantages are marginally high compared to the vegetarian diet. The meat consumption not only offers much needed vitamins, proteins in a regular proper consumption on diets, but also more benefits such as convenience and health-conscious urban population prefers a large protein filled meals over consumption of any extra supplements. The meat and poultry market within the US has grown over 250% in the last two decades and the most common meats are beef and chicken. Many acquisitions have taken place by the larger industry operations and it has increased concentration to further five years down. This trend is expected to continue as there is profitability pressure in many major firms and it is the key players that concentrate on the core business development to achieve optimal economies of larger scale.

2 . Current Market Trends in Meat and Poultry Products

According to MarketLine, the global meat and poultry market for beef, chicken, fish, and complete poultry meat is expected to grow at almost 4% to reach the revenue value of $640 billion by the end of 2015. The meat and poultry industry has suffered in the past due to several spreads of diseases, breakouts of many notices of bad effects of consumption of meats, foot and mouth diseases, bird flu and with imports of few products being banned in major products, as well as pork meat which lead the meat market, the recovery had started and it is growing at a much faster and steadier rate.

The biggest producers and consumers of cattle and beef include US, China, India, Argantina and Brazil. The chilled meat and seafood products are equally leading in the meat segment in the industry and which account for sales of more than $236 billion or 45% of the global market revenue in meat. The global fresh meat market is expected to hit 300 million ton mark by the end of 2015, according to Global Industry Analysts. The market drivers include the global rising population that consumes non-vegetarian foods, affordable transportation costs, urbanization, and effective disease control. Asia-Pacific demographic is the leading region in meat consumption, and the demand is rising due to strong economic growth and higher incomes in China, India and many Asian countries. Today, there are more health conscious consumers in the West that have turned to vegetarian diets, as a result meat demand is slowing in North American demographic. However, the supply and industry stability is expected to improve and generate more revenues in the near future.

3 . Major Players In Meat and Poultry Sector

Major players in the meat and poultry industry include, Tyson Foods, Inc, JBS USA, Cargill Meat Solutions, Smithfield Foods, Sysco Corp, ConAgra Foods, Hormel Foods Corp, National Beef Packing Co, and Maple Leaf Foods.