Market Report Shows Lamb Holding Ground with U.S. Consumers

The U.S. Quarterly Lamb Retail Sales Report for the fourth quarter of 2021 shows lamb performed better last year than it did in 2020. 

Lamb has seen tremendous retail sales growth during the past two years. Lamb and exotics were the only meat categories to grow volume last year compared to 2020. 

Compared to 2019, a more typical year before COVID-19 rather than 2020, volume sales of lamb grew 19 percent in 2021. 

Dollar sales increased 9.6 percent in 2021. While inflation had an impact, retailers still sold more lamb with volume sales increasing by 1.4 percent compared to 2020. 

The average price per pound for lamb rose by 8.2 percent, from $8.25 a pound to $8.92 a pound in last year. 

Sales were exceptionally strong during the traditional peak time of year for lamb, which is Easter and Christmas. 

Ribeye cuts took over the top spot in sales, surpassing loins by $1 million last year.

(Story Courtesy of the NAFB News Service)