Poultry
Boneless/skinless breasts dipped $0.04 to $2.65/lb, while tenderloins climbed $0.06 to $2.59/lb. Wings rose slightly to $1.21/lb but remain far below last year’s pricing. Thigh meat stayed flat. Turkey breasts were up 6% w/w. Large shell eggs ticked up 1% but are still down 20% m/m.
Outlook: Chicken markets are entering a seasonal slowdown, but white meat demand remains steady. Operators should adjust recipe costing models to reflect firm tenderloin and thigh pricing and explore swaps where value cuts remain stable.
Beef
Choice beef jumped 4% to $393.79/cwt, with striploins, tenderloins, and top sirloins leading the increase. Ground beef 81% rose to $3.84/lb, and 50% trim hit an all-time high at $2.00/lb.
Outlook: Expect higher beef costs through early July. Review burger margins and steak pricing in Back Office to ensure menu profitability. Grinds and premium cuts may require near-term recipe updates to maintain target food cost percentages.
Pork
The pork cutout rose 4% w/w and nearly 19% m/m. Ribs, butts, bellies, and hams saw the most upward movement. Boneless pork butts rose to $1.84/lb, and baby back ribs hit $3.17/lb.
Outlook: Pork prices will likely remain elevated through July 4th. If pork is a menu staple, use the Back Office platform to identify cost increases in inventory and evaluate potential pricing adjustments for high-volume items.
Seafood
Salmon prices dropped 6.9% m/m, returning to more typical seasonal levels. The market has cooled faster than expected.
Outlook: Now’s a good time to reintroduce or feature salmon on the menu. Operators can use Back Office to run profit analyses on seafood dishes and explore recipe updates while prices remain favorable.
Produce
Avocados ended their 11-week price slide with a slight gain. Roma tomatoes dipped another 1.5% w/w but are approaching a near-term bottom.
Outlook: Expect avocado volatility through August. Operators using Back Office should flag high-usage items tied to avocados for weekly cost monitoring and consider temporarily replacing premium garnishes with more stable ingredients.
Dairy
Cheese blocks and barrels both declined to $1.69/lb, and butter slipped to $2.53/lb. Cream availability is tighter in some regions, but overall supply is adequate.
Outlook: With dairy costs softening slightly, operators have an opportunity to reassess margins on pizza, baked goods, and sauces. Use recipe costing tools in Back Office to evaluate impact and track changes over time.
Grain
Wheat markets ticked higher due to slow harvest progress and geopolitical concerns. Chicago wheat briefly broke technical resistance, but a broader breakout appears unlikely.
Outlook: Pricing is expected to retreat by mid-July as harvest activity normalizes. Operators should keep an eye on any flour-based menu items and ensure they’re accounting for temporary price shifts.
