The seasonal shift in retail protein advertising is becoming more apparent as cooler weather settles across parts of the country and consumers turn to heartier meals.
While falling temperatures typically reduce grilling occasions, promotions on cuts like chops, ribs, and steaks continue to offer retailers opportunities to attract shoppers looking to extend the outdoor cooking season or stock up ahead of winter.
USDA retail feature data show continued promotional activity across the major protein categories, although advertising patterns and feature rates varied across the meat case.
Beef promotions held relatively strong, with the feature rate at 87.7%, up about two percentage points from the previous week. Advertising increased for several cuts suited to fall cooking, including brisket, chuck, and sirloin. Chuck roasts averaged $6.01 per pound in advertised prices, up 5% from a year earlier. Ground beef, a versatile, year-round staple, reached $6.00 per pound, compared with $5.49 in 2025.
Grocers also highlighted pork, although overall advertising activity eased, with the feature rate falling to 85.4% from 93.8% the previous week. Offerings shifted toward ham, ribs, shoulder, and prepared items, while advertising for loin and belly products declined following the peak summer bacon season.
Pork shoulder roasts averaged $2.20 per pound, while boneless smoked ham retailed at $5.50 per pound, reflecting mixed year over year price trends.
Center-cut pork chops retailed at $3.87 per pound, about 10 cents below year-ago levels, while backribs ran at $4.24 per pound, up 18 cents from last year.
Elsewhere, chicken advertising recorded a steeper pullback, with the feature rate dropping 10 percentage points to 77.7%. Parts and variety meats gained advertising space, while whole birds, ground chicken, and deli items lost visibility. Chicken breasts averaged $4.16 per pound, offering a lower-priced alternative to ground beef, while chicken legs were competitively priced at around $1.50 per pound.
Turkey advertising eased week over week, although promotional activity remained active ahead of the holiday season. Whole fresh turkeys averaged $1.47 per pound, down from $2.13 a year earlier. However, Expana reports that tight supplies are complicating buyers’ efforts to meet immediate holiday needs, while benchmark prices for hens and toms across all weight categories remain at record highs.
At the egg case, the national feature rate increased week over week to 42.1%. However, retail demand remains subdued, according to Expana, despite everyday prices generally hovering near $1.50 per dozen. Foodservice demand has also softened following the end of peak travel season.
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Written by Courtney Shum
