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US NAICS 44521 | Industry Report

Meat Markets in the US Industry Data and Analysis

CL
Christopher Lombardo
Analyst New York, United States December 2025

Meat markets have weathered a tumultuous five years through 2025, defined by relentless cost pressures, shifting consumer habits and fierce competition from both traditional grocers and a rapidly growing online segment. The industry has had to maintain stability amid volatile input prices and pandemic-era shocks, with nimble butchers racing to adjust their product mix, streamline operations and keep pace with evolving customer expectations. While top-line growth has largely stabilized following the COVID-fueled surge, maintaining profit has become more challenging as overhead costs, regulatory demands and consumer price sensitivity intensify. Over the past five years, revenue has been climbing at a CAGR of 4.3%; however, much of this growth stems from COVID-era hikes. In 2025, revenue will expand just 0.2%—a more accurate representation of recent revenue performance—totalling $13.9 billion.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Meat Markets industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released December 2025.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Meat Markets industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 44521. The Meat Markets industry comprises butcher shops and delicatessens that primarily retail fresh, frozen and cured meats and poultry products to households, other retailers and food service companies. These outlets may also purvey a variety of specialized products like homemade sausages, marinated meats or gourmet cuts. Related terms covered in the Meat Markets industry in the United States include broiler, point-of-sale and electronic data interchange (edi).

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Meat Markets industry in the United States include Beef , Chicken and Turkey.

What companies are included in this industry?

The Meat Markets industry in the United States is highly fragmented with no companies holding a market share greater than 5%.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Meat Markets industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Meat Markets industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Meat Markets industry in the United States.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Meat Markets industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Meat Markets industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Meat Markets industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Meat Markets industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Meat Markets industry in the United States.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Meat Markets industry in the United States in 2026?

The market size of the Meat Markets industry in the United States is $13.9bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Meat Markets industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 10,227 businesses in the Meat Markets industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Meat Markets industry in the United States?

The Meat Markets industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Meat Markets industry in the United States?

The Meat Markets industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Meat Markets industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Meat Markets industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 4.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Meat Markets industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Meat Markets industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What does the Meat Markets industry in the United States include?

Beef and Pork are part of the Meat Markets industry in the United States.

How competitive is the Meat Markets industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Meat Markets industry in the United States.

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