Poultry
Key poultry items shifted slightly last week. Boneless breasts dipped to $2.76/lb, while tenderloins rose to $2.44/lb and boneless thighs jumped again to $2.45/lb. Thigh meat remains significantly higher y/y, driven by operator demand.
Outlook: White and dark meat prices are holding firm. Operators should ensure price files are up to date in their Back Office systems to avoid invoice discrepancies and overpayments.
Beef
The beef market gained again, with cutouts, grinds, and value cuts like chuck rolls all trending higher. 81% ground beef rose to $3.62/lb, and short loins and striploins continue to climb.
Outlook: Continued price strength is expected, especially with harvest levels constrained. Back Office users should track fluctuations against budget forecasts and adjust purchasing behavior accordingly.
Pork
Pork pricing saw strong upward movement across bellies, hams, and trims. 72% trim rose $0.14 to $1.19/lb, and belly prices gained 5% w/w. Bone-in and boneless butts also posted solid gains.
Outlook: With trim and bellies driving higher food costs, it’s important to monitor cost-per-serving and review portion control data across recipes and SKUs.
Seafood
Cod prices climbed to $4.60/lb, the highest in nearly two years. Prices have risen faster than expected this spring and may take time to retreat.
Outlook: Elevated pricing could squeeze profit margins. Operators should consider recalculating theoretical food cost and exploring lower-cost alternatives within their menu engineering tools.
Produce
Produce pricing remained largely stable, with a temporary dip in Roma tomatoes and steady movement in other key items. Avocados continued their gradual decline, and lettuce was unchanged.
Outlook: Now is a strong period for produce predictability. Leverage this stability to plan menus, manage waste, and verify invoice accuracy across locations.
Dairy
Butter rose $0.13/lb to $2.49/lb, while cheese and barrel prices were unchanged. Nonfat dry milk rose $0.06 to $1.29/lb, supported by global export demand and seasonal production trends.
Outlook: With butter and milk products trending higher, operators should ensure their recipes and GL coding reflect current pricing to maintain accurate food cost reporting.
Grain
Despite weak crop condition scores, grain markets eased last week due to strong rainfall projections and muted trader reaction to tariffs.
Outlook: Operators should maintain updated ingredient pricing and use Back Office reporting tools to track fluctuations in flour, cornmeal, and grain-based products across recipes.
