Before the COVID-19 outbreak, consumers were purchasing a variety of pre-portioned or portion-controlled meat and poultry products. A shift in lifestyle changes because of the pandemic caused the total poultry and meat portion size category (0- to 6-ounce sizes) to drop 3.8 percent to approximately $654.2 million for the latest 52 weeks ending Feb. 21 in total U.S. multi-outlets, according to IRI Inc., Chicago.
“Category declines could have adversely been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with fewer people eating or snacking away from home, as overall distribution levels remained consistent over the past 52 weeks,” says Rick Butler, IRI’s client insights consultant. “Trends could reverse as schools reopen and people return to work.”