In Case You Missed It: Scenes from the 2023 Annual Meat Conference

The 2023 Annual Meat Conference (AMC), held March 6 to 8 in Dallas by FMI-The Food Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), brought together more than 1,500 meat industry professionals, ranging from producers, suppliers and retailers to service providers, consultants, analysts and economists.

From left: Stacy Couch of Sealed Air, David Hess of Harris Teeter and Christine McCracken of Rabobank take a “deep dive” into the findings of FMI/NAMI’s 2023 Power of Meat study, presented in the previous session by author Anne-Marie Roerink of 2010 Analytics (far right).

Left to right: Lee Bonecutter of Cargill, Stacy Couch of Sealed Air, Jamie Dik of Cargill and Catie Cantrell of Heinen’s discuss the shift toward case-ready meat, including a look at Heinen’s experience in making the transition.

Barb Renner of Deloitte introduces the session, “Realizing the Business Value of Supply Chain Transparency,” with panelists Justin Ransom of Tyson Foods and Randy Huffman of Maple Leaf Foods.

Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, and Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute, pose for the camera after an interview with Winsight Grocery Business.

On the AMC show floor, Tyson Foods was one of numerous exhibitors highlighting sustainable products and processes.

Industry giant Cargill spotlighted the breadth of its meat portfolio.

Dietz & Watson was among the companies that helped generate 2022 industrywide processed meat sales of $29.4 billion, up 8% year over year, according to IRI data in the 2023 Power of Meat report.

Bacon, including smoked meats from Godshall’s, tied with packaged lunchmeat for top dollar sales share last year in the processed meat category.

Sealed Air’s Cryovac was among exhibitors displaying a range of environmentally friendly meat packaging.

Farmer Focus is seizing on a confluence of trends exhibited by the “better for you” meat shopper: organic, sustainability, humanely raised livestock and traceability for food safety.

Pro football legend Terry Bradshaw appeared at the Bradshaw Ranch and Branding Iron booth, where Branding Iron Holdings showcased its retail portfolio and attendees got a chance to sample Thick N’ Juicy Bradshaw Burgers.

Beef dollar sales nearly doubled that of chicken in 2022, fueled by big players such as National Beef.

Greenfield Natural Meat Co. is appealing to a growing segment of meat shoppers—those prioritizing health, animal welfare, sustainable practices and transparency.

Catelli Bros. touted its assortment of value-added proteins—including specialty grinds, marinated and seasoned, ready to cook and cook-in-the-bag beef, chicken, pork and turkey—that offer consumers quick and easy meal solutions.

Brent Patmos of Fresh Mark and Crystal Ackerman of Southeastern Grocers shared their observations in the “Overcoming the Volatility in Meat Retail” session.

Also giving his take in the “Volatility in Meat Retail” session was StoneX director and longtime Smithfield Foods executive Dhamu Thamodaran, who kept the audience on its toes and drew lots of applause with his incisive, witty remarks.

FMI’s Rick Stein (far right) helped close out AMC’s program in the “Retail Innovations in Meat” session with (left to right) Tom Sinnen of The Stores Consulting Group, Doug Iverson of Invafresh and John Kelly of Sealed Air.