Poultry
Poultry prices were mostly steady this week, giving operators a welcome stretch of predictability when planning inventory and building out weekly orders. Breasts, tenders, wings, and thighs saw only minor changes, and wings continue to be one of the strongest value items compared to last year. Turkey and eggs remain elevated due to ongoing HPAI concerns, so operators should keep an eye on recipe costing and substitutions in holiday menus. Stable poultry pricing means fewer surprises on invoice checks and a smoother ordering cycle for BOH teams.
Outlook: Expect poultry prices to stay generally stable through the holidays. Increased production and ongoing HPAI concerns may tug the market in opposite directions, but neither looks strong enough to cause a major swing. Short-term stability, slight seasonal lift.
Beef
Beef was mixed this week, with premium cuts like ribeyes, striploins, and loins trending lower — a potential opportunity for operators who rely on steaks or premium entrées to drive higher contribution margins. End cuts and trim held mostly steady, helping operators keep ground beef programs predictable in both cost and yield. As retailers shift into beef features for the holiday season, operators using Back Office for recipe costing will see more consistent data week over week and fewer menu-level cost swings.
Outlook: As retailers clear freezer space from Thanksgiving turkeys and shift to December beef features, expect selective strength in holiday-driven cuts. Most other items should remain steady to slightly lower heading into late December.
Pork
Pork leaned slightly softer overall, with butts, bellies, and ribs easing while loins and tenderloins held firm. Export demand kept boneless butts supported, but domestic demand remains quiet. For operators, pork continues to be one of the most consistent cost-control proteins, helping stabilize menu margins and simplify recipe calculations across multiple applications. Back Office users tracking AP vs. theoretical usage should expect minimal variance here in the near term.
Outlook: With lean hog prices aligning closely with the futures market and no big demand growth expected, the pork cutout is expected to trend flat to slightly lower into early January — good news for operators looking for value proteins.
Seafood
Pollock prices rebounded after months of declines, finally lifting off six-year lows. While prices likely moved higher into fall, expectations point toward softer markets in Q1 — helpful for operators planning menu updates or LTOs featuring seafood. Back Office users analyzing plate costs will see opportunities here early in 2026 as the market resets.
Outlook: Pollock should trend lower in early 2026, making it an opportunity for operators planning LTOs, fish sandwiches, or value-driven seafood offerings.
Produce
Tomatoes dropped quickly from last week’s spike as supply improved, which will help BOH teams stay on-budget for sauces, salsas, and garnish-heavy builds. Lettuce is still holding firmly due to ongoing harvest issues, but the broader trend points toward relief in Q1. Potatoes remain steady and below last year’s levels, helping operators rein in costs for fries, mashers, and value-engineered sides. Overall, produce volatility is easing, making weekly ordering and prep forecasting more predictable.
Outlook: Expect tomatoes and lettuce to stay somewhat choppy through January, but the overall bias points lower as supply concerns ease. Potatoes should remain stable through the winter with only minor seasonal bumps.
Dairy
Cheese prices continued easing, offering operators meaningful relief across pizza, burgers, handhelds, and any item with a heavy cheese footprint. Butter moved slightly higher with holiday demand but not enough to disrupt budgets. Fluid milk stayed steady. Operators using Back Office for recipe costing or weekly invoice audits will see smoother, more predictable dairy inputs as we move through December.
Outlook: Cheese should remain favorable through December, while butter likely holds firm before easing after holiday demand fades. Export activity remains quiet and shouldn’t pressure prices near-term.
Grains
Soybean oil climbed again despite weaker soybeans, driven by shifting biofuel policy sentiment and usage trends. This affects frying-heavy concepts most, especially those monitoring actual vs. theoretical usage in Back Office. For operators who rely on a consistent fry station, tighter control of oil rotation and waste management will matter more as SBO remains firm.
Outlook: Expect some volatility as biofuel policy updates unfold. SBO may feel overbought short-term, but operators shouldn’t expect dramatic relief until policy direction becomes clearer post-January.
