An SKU -- Stock Keeping Unit – is a common retail term for a unique numeric identifier, used most commonly in online business to refer to a specific product in inventory or in a catalog. The new products that are out include many new flavor options and branding as consumers become more aware of different types of meat and origins of products.

The new meat products included many ready-to-cook, case-ready products as well as many all-natural products, including pre-sliced roasted chicken breast. While red meat launches are outpacing poultry launches, poultry producers appear to be more innovative.

“Meat sellers have traditionally operated like commodity producers, competing primarily on price,” Tom Vierhile, director of Productscan Online, explained. “Poultry sellers have adopted more of a branded model with companies like Perdue and Tyson offering branded and value-added poultry products long before most meat sellers even thought about doing so.”

There are signs, however, that red meat processors are catching up as they are introducing more value-added beef and pork products. One factor contributing to the launch of more value-added products is that Wal-Mart is teaching U.S. consumers to accept previously packaged meats, Vierhille said. Because Wal-Mart stores do not have meat-cutting departments, customers are encountering more case-ready meats, possibly conditioning them to be more accepting of case-ready meats.

Source: MeatNews