NAMI, FMI CEOs: Protein demand not just a fad

Protein consumption is more than just a trend, leaders from the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and Food Marketing Institute said on the opening day of the 2019 Annual Meat Conference in Dallas, Texas.

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Julie Anna Potts | Photo courtesy of North American Meat Institute
Julie Anna Potts | Photo courtesy of North American Meat Institute

Protein consumption is more than just a trend, leaders from the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and Food Marketing Institute said on the opening day of the 2019 Annual Meat Conference in Dallas, Texas.

During the conference session, “Meat Matters: Perspectives from NAMI and FMI Leadership,” NAMI President and CEO Julie Anna Potts, and FMI President and CEO Leslie Sarasin, addressed each other’s questions about the future of protein purchasing and consumption trends.

Will demand for protein wane?

“I don’t think it’s a fad,” Sarasin said on March 3. “I think consumers are interested in protein, and I think there will continue to be an interest in protein. … I don’t really see a scenario in which protein becomes persona non-grata.”

That even applies to alternative proteins, such as plant-based protein products.

But the challenge to the food industry, Sarasin said, is to make sure that it is transparent. Sarasin said if customers seek more information about certain products, the industry needs to provide them with those details as they are available.  

What protein product trends will we see in 2029?

When Potts was asked what she foresaw as the most popular meat and poultry purchasing trends ten years in the future, she replied that value-added protein products, ready-to-eat products and meal kits will continue to be popular with consumers as busy lifestyles do not appear to be slowing down. Consumers want products that are easier and more efficient to prepare.

Potts said key purchasing decision influencers are value, taste and quality.

Potts assumed the role as president and CEO of NAMI in August 2018, succeeding Barry Carpenter, who announced his intent to retire in December 2017. Potts had previously served as the executive vice president and treasurer of American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) since 2011.

The Annual Meat Conference runs from March 3 to March 5.

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