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America’s love of chicken-based cuisine has powered the growth of the U.S. poultry industry over the past several decades. The industry has seen a surge in consumption and production, with foodservice establishments across the country embracing the versatility of poultry in their offerings. Whether served as the star of a meal or as the base for powerful flavor hybrids, chicken dishes have become staples in restaurants, cafeterias, and other commercial eateries. It is therefore no surprise that U.S. demand for poultry products continues to soar.
To uncover the latest trends in the rapidly growing U.S. chicken market, Brizo has collected and analyzed comprehensive data from hundreds of foodservice establishments around the country. Drawing on sales information from distributors, restaurant tech coverage, and in-depth menu data, this article will provide an up-to-date look at the evolving dynamics of the U.S. chicken industry.
Poultry is the preferred choice among most Americans, with recent data showing that chicken is the most popular meat in the country, followed by beef and pork. Consumers are particularly drawn to the texture, flavor, and ease of cooking of poultry products. This has led to a surge in chicken-based dishes around the country, with most foodservice establishments now featuring some form of poultry-centric offering in their menus.
Data from Brizo shows that the fastest growing items on restaurant menus are chicken wings, as well as other popular poultry-based dishes like chicken tacos and chicken nuggets. Chicken wings have surged in popularity over the past few years and are now found in most Mexican, Chinese, and American restaurants. Chicken tacos, on the other hand, have been a staple in Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants for decades but have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Chicken nuggets have also seen an uptick in popularity in recent years, with their convenience, portability, and range of flavors making them a hit with a wide variety of consumers. While traditional nugget recipes remain popular across the U.S., many eateries are beginning to experiment with new recipes featuring bold spices, innovative sauces, and unique ingredients.
Beyond chicken wings, tacos, and nuggets, there has been a surge of new items featuring chicken as the star ingredient. Chicken paratha, chicken burritos, and chicken pot pies are just a few of the innovative dishes that have gained traction across the country. These dishes have helped to bring a unique twist to classic dishes and have allowed restaurants to offer something new and exciting to their consumers.
The rising popularity of poultry dishes is also being driven by the health and wellness trend. Many consumers are turning to leaner proteins like poultry to get their daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals while avoiding red meat and saturated fats. This has led to an increase in grilled and baked recipes that emphasize leaner cuts of poultry. Health-focused menu items featuring grilled chicken and other poultry-based dishes are now commonplace in most restaurants.
With the market for chicken-based dishes on the rise, those in the foodservice business should be mindful of the latest trends. By taking advantage of the comprehensive data provided by Brizo, head of sales for new food products looking to sell into new markets can get detailed and up-to-date insights into the latest market trends and use this information to develop targeted sales strategies. Furthermore, with the help of Brizo’s data enrichment tools, food distributors can enhance the data in their systems and make decisions with more confidence.
