Certified Angus Beef: 2020 Not As Bad A Feared Early On

In a very challenging year, Certified Angus Beef and its partners report they have  sold more than one billion pounds of beef across 51 countries and there were some other bright spots as well. John Stika President of Certified Angus Beef said when it’s all said and done, it looks like retail will have a record year, up by roughly 12%.

“What's been interesting is as you look at food service, it's going to end the year down about 22%-24%, all things considered. But I think it's important that we throw a sense of reality on top of that as well, and know where we're at, starting into the next fiscal year with our food service business still struggling at a plateau where we're about 30% back of where we were at a year ago.”

And so Stika pointed out, the brand continues to evolve, focusing on flexibility, trying to help its partners across the beef supply chain.

“As we look at COVID, it hasn't necessarily changed the consumer's demand for quality, by any means. It just changed dramatically where and how they were looking to access it. And so, as a cattleman, I would just stress that there's not a need to reshape the direction we're going with regards to what we're providing to consumers.”

He went on to say a record 35.9%, or 5.54 million head, of all Angus-influenced cattle met the brand’s ten quality specifications at licensed packers, which Stika said means more ways for licensed processors, distributors, restaurants and retailers to deliver.

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