Certified Angus Hits Record

Certified Angus Hits Record. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

Certified Angus Beef reached record sales for the fifth consecutive year - spurred by increased demand. The brand’s licensed partners marketed 807-million pounds - an increase of almost four-percent over 2010. Randy Blach of CattleFax isn’t surprised.

BLACH: When we look at certified angus beef demand it’s grown at a much more rapid pace than what we’ve seen just average domestic beef demand in this country. And I think that stands to reason. Fewer consumers are eating out and when they go to the retail stores and make the decision that they’re going to buy a steak product, they have voted with their dollars that they want a great eating experience and what we’re seeing them do is pick higher quality brands like certified angus beef. That’s where I think they’ve found value and consistency.

Growth was balanced - with increases among steaks, end meats and ground beef. Foodservice saw an 11-percent jump - and international sales grew by 13-percent. Blach says overseas demand shows a lot of promise.

BLACH: This is an opportunity where growing global incomes, growing populations create tremendous opportunities for producers in all segments of agriculture here within the U.S. economy; that we can reach consumers around the globe with the high quality, safest, most wholesome products anywhere around the globe so we have a tremendous opportunity from a U.S. production standpoint.

Certified Angus Beef Vice President Tracey Erickson says nearly 16-thousand businesses in the United States and 42 other countries partner with CAB.

ERICKSON: And that product quality is core. it’s really one of the pillars of success. And we often talk about the people and that’s people in every segment that get excited about this brand that really take it to a different level and their enthusiasm has not waned. I think the recent success is also because of what I would call not letting the current economic trends influence how passionately we promote the brand.

More than 3.5-million head of cattle met the brand’s specifications - as producers continue to receive premiums for hitting the CAB target.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.