Each year, Midan releases our Top 10 Meat and Dairy Trends for the upcoming year. At the start of 2026, we knew the industry was preparing for a year of rapid technology changes, rising prices and evolving consumer behaviors.
Now, halfway through the year, we are tracking exactly how these market dynamics are playing out in real time. More importantly, we are providing the data-backed, actionable strategies your brand needs to navigate these changes and finish the year strong.
Executive Summary: The 2026 Midyear Shifts
- The Zero-Click Reality: AI is rapidly compressing the path to purchase, meaning brands must optimize for GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) alongside traditional SEO, rather than instead of it.
- Volume Resilience: Despite record-high beef prices, consumers are adjusting how they shop (grinds, value cuts, cross-merchandising) rather than leaving the meat case entirely.
- Sustainability as a Standard: Sustainable agriculture practices are no longer a niche differentiator; they are a baseline expectation required to build brand trust.
Trend #1 – How are Consumers Using AI for Grocery Shopping in 2026?
We can’t talk about trends in 2026 without discussing AI. It’s affecting every area of our lives. At the beginning of the year, we predicted “Goodbye Google, The Consumer Journey Starts with AI,” indicating that the shift from traditional search engines to cognitive search would transform how consumers discover and buy products.
The Midyear Update:
The shift is accelerating even more than we thought. E-commerce is evolving and the zero-click buying era is set to increasingly dominate for the remainder of 2026. As marketers, our goal for so long has been to appear high in search results and get the consumer to click on our content. With AI and search results immediately providing the answer or information, there is less need to click. As of the first four months of 2026, 68.01% of all Google searches result in zero clicks, according to SparkToro. This means the user never visits any website from the search results page.
AI is also changing the way consumers shop online. According to the Quarterly AI Traffic Report from Adobe Digital Insights, AI-driven traffic to retail sites is up 393% year over year in Q1 2026. Eighty percent of consumers who use AI for online shopping say they use AI assistants more than they used to.
The IBM and National Retail Federation study found that 41% of consumers use AI assistants to research products, 33% to look for reviews, and 31% to search for deals. AI can recommend products and offer a one-click checkout, making the transaction simpler than ever for consumers.
Takeaways:
- Expand your strategy from traditional SEO to GEO by restructuring content into clear scannable formats and providing content that answers questions consumers may be asking AI.
- Optimize website product descriptions to answer consumers’ AI searches for items to meet their specific dietary needs or wellness goals.
- Create rich content to become the definitive source that AI models scan when searching for answers. Publish original industry data, research and thought leadership interviews to make sure your brand is the cited authority when AI generates its overview response.
Trend #2 – Why are Consumers Still Buying Beef Despite Record High Prices?
At the start of 2026, we predicted “Beef Prices Surge as Supply Shrinks, Creating Opportunities Across the Meat Case.” We were seeing record high beef prices and predicted the shrinking beef supply, among other factors, would cause beef prices to continue to increase.
The Midyear Update:
This prediction is playing out as we progress through 2026. The USDA May 2026 estimates indicate U.S. beef production will be around 25.547 billion pounds (slightly less compared to last year’s 26 billion pounds). Due to multiple factors including shrinking supply, inflation, halted imports, drought and increased gas prices, Q1 fresh beef retail prices hit record highs. According to the Consumer Price Index, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, beef and veal prices rose 2.7% in April 2026 (14.5% higher than a year ago).
At the start of 2026, we were wondering how much can the consumer take? Thankfully, despite the sticker shock, consumers’ purchases of beef remain incredibly resilient. A four-week retail snapshot ending May 17, 2026, from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association highlights that beef continues to see record retail sales and intent to consume beef at the same level or more into the future. Beef retail dollar sales are up 7.1% versus a year ago.
According to May 2026 data 210 Analytics LLC, chicken captured significant market share to become the volume leader, driven by financially stressed consumers making tradeoffs at the meat case to help with their grocery budgets. All four weeks in May showed year-over-year unit decreases overall for food and beverage volume at retail as consumers managed spending with more intentional purchases.
Takeaways:
Consumers want to keep meat on the table, but they need brands to help justify the cost. Here are some ways you can encourage purchase:
- At retail, offer easy everyday meals. Use cross-merchandising to provide consumers a convenient, complete meal solution to feed their families nutritiously and affordably. Provide recipe inspiration for new ways to prepare grinds. Offer preformed seasoned burger patties and preseasoned ready-to-cook meats to provide more value. Some consumers will pay a little extra for the added convenience. At foodservice, offer value meal bundles or an “under $x menu” to help consumers get more bang for their buck.
- Educate on the importance of meat and dairy in a nutritional diet. Consumers are focusing on protein intake and wellness increasingly in 2026. Show them how choosing meat and dairy fuels their family with healthy protein.
- Utilize Midan’s Consumer Segmentation Research to target specific groups of consumers based on their purchasing preferences. For example, marketing to “Connected Trendsetters” should highlight unique grinds or premium, value-added products, as they are highly engaged digital shoppers willing to pay a premium for new and convenient food experiences.
Trend #3: How Can Meat and Dairy Brands Show Their Sustainability Strengths?
At the start of 2026, we identified the growing consumer focus on food sustainability. We predicted that throughout 2026, sustainability would continue to become a standard consumer expectation instead of a unique marketing differentiator.
Midyear Update:
The sustainability trend continues to gain momentum across all of agriculture, including meat and dairy.
Midan Account Director Erica Prescott plugged into these industrywide efforts firsthand at the 2026 USRSB General Assembly in Tampa. The theme was “Science & Stewardship: Driving Progress,” showcasing the beef industry’s continued commitment to meeting tangible goals. The discussions left her feeling optimistic and excited about the industry’s sustainability future.
This momentum extends across all of agriculture. The dairy industry’s ongoing push toward the 2050 Net Zero Initiative, coupled with the rise of “Regenerative Resilience” as a core dairy consumer expectation identified by the IFF 2026 Dairy Trends Report through the Regen Dairy project, confirms that producers across the board are stepping up. Industry leaders are encouraging both meat and dairy brands to proudly share their supply chain stories.
Takeaways:
- The meat and dairy industries have a phenomenal sustainability story to share, with the data and practices to back it up. By sharing transparent stories of how farmers and ranchers care for the land and animals, the industry can build authentic trust and educate today’s shoppers.
- To achieve this, brands should be transparent. Consumers are interested in the specific tangible processes like your partnerships and farming/ranching practices.
2026 IS MOVING FAST. WILL YOUR BRAND FINISH ON TOP?
As technology shifts the consumer journey and economic pressures test brand loyalty, having an expert partner matters more than ever. As an industry authority, Midan can translate these midyear insights into actionable marketing strategies that safeguard your volume and build authentic trust.
Let’s talk about how to leverage these trends to drive growth for your business.