Giving the Industry Guidance.
No one can tell the meat industry’s story better than someone who has actually lived it. Midan Marketing leads the conversation by bringing together unparalleled experience and deep understanding of what motivates today’s meat consumers.
Blog
Trends to Reignite the Foodservice Experience
I spent the first years of my career selling premium beef around the globe. This left a permanent soft spot in my heart for fine dining establishments and steakhouses. The past few years have been tough for the entire foodservice industry, but fine dining was hit...
2023 Mid-Year Trends Update
Half of 2023 is in the rearview mirror. As I consider what the next six months will bring, I can’t help but rewind to the beginning of this year and revisit our 2023 Top Trends to Watch report. The Midan Team identified 10 trends that we expected to influence meat and...
Explore the 4 Topics That Had Everyone Talking at AMC 2023
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of meeting in person once again with individuals from all parts of the meat industry during the 2023 Annual Meat Conference. In the three years since the last conference, our world has been completely disrupted by COVID-19. Every...
Transforming the Restaurant Experience: Top 3 NRA 2023 Takeaways
The Midan team was on the scene at the 2023 National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show to catch up on foodservice trends and see some old and new faces. With over 800 first-time exhibitors, more than double last year’s first-time attendees,1 the show halls and...
3 Ways To Help Consumers Spice Things Up This Grilling Season
It’s the end of May, which means grilling season is officially here! Consumers have always loved firing up the grill during the summer, whether it’s ribeyes for two or a backyard barbecue with the neighbors. As consumers continue to evolve, though, so does how they...
AMC 2023 Top
Takeaways Video
The Midan Team loved being “live and in person” at AMC 2023 to soak up the learnings, reconnect with colleagues and see the latest innovations our industry has to offer. Our new video division, Parable Pictures, was also onsite to capture Midan team members sharing...
AMC 2023 Top 10 Takeaways
AMC 2023: Back Together and Better Than Ever At this year’s Annual Meat Conference (AMC) in Dallas, Texas, high energy and enthusiasm were evident: Attendees and exhibitors were delighted to convene in person after a three-year absence. Along with the great vibes from...
Top Takeaways From 2023 CattleCon
In February, I had the privilege of traveling with a few of my colleagues to the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show held in New Orleans. I had the privilege of speaking as part of Cattlemen’s College. We attended sessions, walked the showroom floor...
Top Takeaways From IPPE 2023
The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is the world's largest annual poultry and egg, meat and animal food industry event of its kind. In the following video, members of the Midan Strategy & Business Services Team and other industry leaders...
#Adulting: How the First Generation to Come of Age Online is Fueling Experimentation at Retail
Born in early 1990, I am a Millennial through and through. I remember getting our home’s first PC and having to choose between being on the phone or on the internet thanks to dial-up. I also remember the first time I sent a text message (and how mad my dad was when he...
2023 Top Trends to Watch
Economic pressures, convenience, technology, sustainability and health – these five broad topics encompass a lot of what is shaping the meat industry today. As Midan looks to 2023, we have identified trends within each of these areas we expect to have the biggest...
Stability, Value Messaging Ease Consumer Worries During High Inflation
Inflation — a topic none of us are excited about, yet all of us are keenly aware of. The June inflation numbers, released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in July, showed that overall inflation is up 9.1% year-over-year with even higher percentages appearing...
Convenience is King to Today’s Meat Consumers
Fall is once again right around the corner, bringing with it school, homework and extracurriculars that push the average consumer’s schedule into overdrive. On top of that, inflation is at an all-time high, adding one more layer of stress to the weekly grocery trip....
Observations From the National Restaurant Association Show 2022: Experiential + Ease
After a two-year hiatus courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-awaited National Restaurant Association Show was back in action last week! As an absolute delight to the senses, this year’s much anticipated show did not disappoint. The electric vibe, culinary...
How to Capitalize on Burger Trends
Summer grilling season is joyously upon us and what better way to kick it off than by celebrating the ultimate grilling go-to: the beef burger! A burger tastes great, goes easy on the wallet and never gets tiresome – its flavor, versatility and accessibility simply...
The Future of Foodservice: It’s In The Experience
Throughout the pandemic, a question that has lingered in my mind is what foodservice will look like on the other side of all this. We’ve seen so many amazing restaurateurs make changes to their business models to stay afloat and – unfortunately – I don’t think those...
Top Takeaways from The Power of Meat 2022
Now in its 17th year, the annual Power of Meat* study tracks how today’s shoppers purchase meat and has become a valuable industry benchmark. Anne-Marie Roerink shared the highly anticipated Power of Meat 2022 findings in an FMI-hosted webinar on March 8, covering...
Top 3 Takeaways From NGA Meat Trends Presentation
Midan Marketing Principal Michael Uetz spoke during The NGA Show 2022 about current consumer trends at the meat case. In case you missed it, here are the top three takeaways from the presentation: 1. Supply Chain Woes Have Reached Consumers We have all dealt with...
A Look Ahead at 2022’s Top Meat Trends
As we slip into a new year, the Midan Marketing team has been looking at which trends from 2021 we believe will stick around as well as those new trends we can expect to see in 2022. Our blog detailing 2022 trends for the meat industry is available on our website, but...
2022 Top Trends to Watch
After closely studying meat consumers all year, Midan now turns an eye toward what’s next for our ever-evolving industry. We’ve explored how perceptions about issues like health and sustainability will not only impact what shoppers purchase at the meat case but also...
Future of Foodservice: 3D Printed Food
For a few years, I’ve had a zany theory about the future of food – particularly foodservice. Sharing it typically yields either a look of confusion or curiosity. My background is in food science and my job at Midan Marketing is all about consumer and industry insights...
Meat Tech 101: Advancements Changing the Definition of ‘Meat’
A short time ago in a land not so far away, when you went to the grocery store to buy meat, you could reasonably assume everything in the meat case was made from responsibly harvested livestock and that the ingredients list would include, well, meat. USDA grades and...
See Why More Meat Consumers Are Hopping On Board the Charcuterie Trend
From 15th century French origins to social media phenomenon – charcuterie has made an impressive and visually pleasing comeback. Charcuterie boards traditionally feature a curated selection of cured meats and cheeses alongside noshes like crackers, berries, nuts and...
2021 Top Trends to Watch
If those of us in the meat industry have learned anything from 2020, it’s that even the most thoughtful predictions go out the window in the face of a pandemic. But it’s precisely that pandemic that has irrevocably altered how we do business and exponentially...
Meal Solutions Offer Options for Consumers and Opportunities for Retailers
The past several months have created millions of more confident home cooks, many by necessity. With restaurants and office buildings closed, American consumers have been spending more time at home and in the kitchen.According to Midan’s July COVID survey of meat...
Future of Ag Podcast with Tim Hammerich “Midan Marketing: A Small Giant in the Ag Industry”
What started as a two-person firm founded by farm kids Michael Uetz and Danette Amstein sixteen years ago has grown into a full-service meat marketing agency with 100+ team members. Listen as Michael and Danette share stories about their journey to build a strong team...
Millennials and Gen Zs are Driving Today’s Foodservice Trends: Learnings from NRA
Alex Tyre and Megan Griesheim, two of Midan’s Account Team members, brought their unique Millennial perspective to the 2019 National Restaurant Association Show and share their musings below. From cannabis demos to robotics, the influence of Gen Z and Millennial...
2018 Meat Industry Headlines
Wow, what a year! Change. Growth. Success. 2018 had it all. Let’s take a minute to recap the themes of this year’s biggest meat industry stories. And look ahead to see how they’ll shape 2019. 1. Positioning Protein Alternatives: Protein alternatives (including the...
Top Six Meat Industry Trends
There’s a saying in the Midan office: “What got us here, won’t get us there.” It’s a reminder that we need to keep our game sharp to compete in the ever-evolving meat industry. It was in that same vein that my partner Danette Amstein and I presented the top meat...
AMC 2018 Top 10
At Annual Meat Conference (AMC) 2018, digital dominated. How today’s meat consumers are using digital to plan, purchase and prepare meals was the unifying theme that coursed through nearly every session. As always, the Midan team was on the scene to sift through all...
Top Meat Industry Headlines of 2017
Oh 2017—what a news-filled, exciting year you have been! Here at Midan we work hard to stay on top of news and trends in the meat industry. As this year wraps up, I wanted to reflect with you on some of 2017’s prominent trends that we believe will impact 2018. The...
Everything Old is New Again: Trends from NRA 2017
Sometimes the more you look back, the further ahead you can see. This was certainly the case for the exhibiting meat companies at this year’s National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show. They demonstrated that the U.S. meat industry is staying “Ahead of the Crave” by...
AMC 2017 Top 10
Bigger than ever before (with 1,300 attendees!), the Annual Meat Conference (AMC) 2017 was an awesome opportunity to hear from experts across all phases of the meat industry about what’s next for our favorite proteins. We came prepared with our trusty notepads and...