Last year, inflation affected the prices of both meat and seafood at U.S. retail stores, but growing consumer preference for protein ensured that sales still rose despite the price hikes.
In 2025, seafood prices rose 2.1 percent to USD 10.52 (EUR 8.98) per pound on average, 210 Analytics Principal Anne-Marie Roerink said at the 2026 Global Seafood Market Conference, which is being held in Hollywood, Florida, U.S.A., from 18 to 22 January.
Meanwhile, beef prices soared 7.5 percent to USD 7.18 (EUR 6.13) per pound on average, pork prices rose 2.1 percent to USD 3.27 (EUR 2.79), and chicken prices inclined 3.3 percent to USD 3.17 (EUR 2.71).
“Consumer sentiment has been on a rollercoaster ride. By and large, consumers are concerned about the sustained level of inflation and [whether they] have a job tomorrow,” Roerink said.
Despite those concerns, consumers heavily increased their purchases of meat last year, especially beef, as Gen Z and millennials looked to eat more protein and increased purchases of healthy, nutritious foods, according to Roerink.
“Meat has moved from villain to vital because of the protein story,” she said.
Beef’s sales by value grew 12.2 percent in 2025, and sales within the overall fresh meat category rose 8.9 percent.
For beef in particular, both value and premium options are performing well, Roerink said, as the third top subcategory of growth in perishables across retailers in 2025 was beef loin and the fourth was beef ribeye. Beef sirloin finished seventh, with beef chuck following close behind.
As for seafood, Roerink said it did not benefit as much from the protein craze as beef but still enjoyed “mild growth” in sales by value and volume.
Fresh seafood sales by value rose 1.3 percent for the year to USD 8.63 billion (EUR 7.4 billion), while sales by volume declined 1 percent. Frozen seafood sales by value increased 1 percent to USD 8.29 billion (EUR 7.1 billion), and sales by volume fell 1.2 percent. Shelf-stable seafood also performed well, with sales by value inclining 1.3 percent to USD 3.4 billion (EUR 2.9 billion) and sales by volume increasing 0.9 percent.
“Seafood inflation was low compared with meat, but seafood has a higher starting point and price perception,” Roerink explained.
Salmon inflation remained relatively low at 0.8 percent last year, and as a result, fresh salmon had “fantastic growth” of around 3 percent by volume, according to Roerink.
Other top performers included sardine sales, which surged 15.5 percent by value within the ambient category and 11.7 percent by volume, thanks in large part to social media popularity that helped push sardines beyond just the food world and into lifestyle content, according to Roerink.
Species that struggled in 2025 included tuna, which had its sales by value dropping 0.2 percent and its sales by volume growing just 0.3 percent.
Despite inflation concerns U.S. consumers continue to have as 2026 progresses, seafood suppliers and retailers can still grow sales this year by appealing to shoppers looking for value, healthy food, and alternatives to restaurant meals, according to Roerink.
Categories that can help to sustain growth, she said, include sushi, which had its sales by value rise 7 percent in 2025 and its sales by volume incline nearly 6 percent. Deli-prepared seafood is another potentially significant market, Roerink said, as prepared seafood tray sales by value surged 34.4 percent last year and 7.3 percent by volume.
