In a year marked by shifting marketing dynamics and margin pressure across the supply chain, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) closed its 2024 fiscal year with its second-strongest sales year in the company’s history. With growth both domestically and internationally, the global beef brand sold 1.237 billion pounds (lb.) across the United States and 55 other countries.

Since 1978 Certified Angus Beef’s success has been in large part because of the engaging, forward-thinking and collaborative producers and partners we work with from pasture to plate.” – John Stika, president of CAB. 

Stay the course on quality

While the total fed-cattle supply declined by 1.6%, this year a record 5.96 million carcasses, up 2.4%, were certified for the brand, with 37.4% of all Angus cattle meeting the brand’s strict quality standards. A record 730,000 carcasses qualified for Certified Angus Beef^® Prime.

“The Angus cattlemen and women who spend every day dedicated to producing the highest quality cattle are the foundation of our brand,” Stika says. “With strong consumer demand, the signal to continue producing premium beef is clear.”

Genetic selection and the right management earned producers nearly $100 per head, above market price, in grid premiums for cattle meeting the brand’s standards.

Continued growth and demand

The market signals from domestic and international consumers showed high-quality beef is in demand both at restaurants and in the meatcase.

Diners continued to find CAB offerings from Michelin-star restaurants to barbecue joints and beyond, spurring continued foodservice growth with 415 million lb. sold across independent specialty, broadline and corporate specialty distributors. Domestically, foodservice experienced the second-best year ever, marking 14 years of growth out of the past 15.

At the meatcase, shoppers reached for the brand. Retail stores recorded 521.5 million lb. sold, a slight 1.7% decline from the previous year. This marked the sixth year of more than 500 million lb. sold across retailers.

CAB Prime sales noted a new milestone with 50.5 million lb. sold, growing 22.5% from 2023. Given the current market conditions, these record sales are further indication that consumers are not backing down from quality.

International product sales grew by 4.6% in 2024 to 194.8 million lb. At a time when overall U.S. beef exports were down, this huge growth was in large part due to increased sales in Mexico, which grew by 30%, making it the brand’s second-largest international market.

CAB value-added products saw their fourth year of continued growth, reaching 45.5 million lb. The widely popular Certified Angus Beef^® smoked and fully cooked brisket saw 27% growth, and beef bacon remained popular both in the United States and internationally.

The brand continued to embrace consumer choice with three additional line extensions: Certified Angus Beef^® Natural, Certified Angus Beef^® Grass-Fed and Certified Angus Beef^® Ranch to Table™.

“We are a brand driven by relationships and quality,” Stika says. “We know that producers and partners across the supply chain who often choose to lead with our brand quality promise succeed, even during difficult market dynamics that challenge producer profitability. Looking ahead, our team is focused on continuing to drive demand for registered Angus genetics and meeting consumer preference for high-quality beef. It’s an approach that’s worked well for 46 years.”