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 Pressure & Category Trading: Beef’s volume resilience is showing signs of strain as record-high prices drive a volume dip. Shoppers are trading down within categories, and shifting from ground beef to more budget-friendly ground pork and chicken.
- 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 – 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 that the shrinking beef supply, among other factors, would cause beef prices to continue to increase.
The Midyear Update:
This price surge prediction is playing out as we progress through 2026. The USDA June 2026 estimates indicate U.S. beef production will be around 25.438 billion pounds this year (slightly less than last year’s 26 billion pounds). Due to multiple factors including shrinking supply, inflation, halted imports, drought and increased gas prices, Q1 and Q2 fresh beef retail prices hit record highs. According to the Consumer Price Index, published by the Bureau Labor of Statistics, beef and veal prices rose 1.2% in June 2026 (11.8% higher than a year ago).
At the start of 2026, we were wondering how much can the consumer take? Through May 2026, beef continued to see resilient retail volume and dollar sales despite the increasing prices. Now, things appear to be changing. Fresh beef dollar sales grew by 5.6% in June, yet actual volume dipped by 1.7%, according to year-over-year Circana data published by Meatingplace.
The pressure is most visible in the grinds category. While many consumers have been turning to grinds as a more affordable protein option, July 2026 ground beef prices are nearly double the price-per-pound of ground pork and ground chicken. This stark price gap is shifting consumer behavior. In June, while dollar sales climbed 9.1%, ground beef volume declined 3.3%. Meanwhile, ground chicken and ground pork saw increases in both dollars and volume. One month of data does not create a trend; however, it is possible this decline in ground beef volume suggests we have reached the consumer’s ground beef price ceiling.
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:
- Beef Brands: At retail, promote a value-centric message. Consumer marketing should focus on beef’s superior nutritional density, overall versatility and “star of the plate” satisfaction. For the upcoming back-to-school season, consider a “weeknight hero” value bundle pack to encourage stock-up behavior for busy school nights. At foodservice, also offer value meal bundles or an “under $x menu” to help consumers get more bang for their buck.
- Pork & Chicken Brands: As shoppers search for ways to lower their grocery bills, now is the time to highlight not only ground pork and chicken as both budget-friendly and incredibly versatile but also whole muscle cuts that help when beef is outside of the weekly budget. Place easy, familiar recipes on pack and back it up online with a mix of organic and paid digital content showcasing flavor and protein messaging as well as easy-to-prepare recipes.
- 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 global sustainability trend continues to gain momentum across all of agriculture, including meat and dairy. At retail, for example, general sustainability claims on meat packages are giving way to specific statements commonly focused on regenerative agricultural practices. Additionally, new food and beverage product launches carrying a regenerative ag claim grew globally at a 44% CAGR between 2021 and 2025, according to Innova Market Insights.
Industry leaders are encouraging both meat and dairy brands to proudly share their supply chain stories. 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, are a couple of examples.
Takeaways:
- The meat and dairy industries have a phenomenal sustainability story to tell, with the data and practices to back it up. By sharing value-driven 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 to assuage consumers’ increasing skepticism around general sustainability claims. Offer a value-driven narrative centered on 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.