E-Mail
Print
You can expect to see more chicken entrees appearing in areas restaurants, if you haven't noticed it already.
"The national trends are pointing to more chicken on the menu for the fall, because it's cheaper than the beef," says Erica Papillion, with the Louisiana Restaurant Association.
"Commodity prices have been rising, especially in the beef market. So, chicken breasts remain an affordable option for restaurants to use whenever they're re-tooling their menus."
Beef prices, already at near-record highs, are expected to be driven up for the second year in a row this year because of a limited supply of cattle.
"And, of course, we had that terrible drought this past summer in the midwest with the corn, which is a feed for beef. So, the beef prices are starting to rise."
The change has already begun at some eateries.
"More casual restaurants and even fast food restaurants...they've been starting to roll out new chicken options since the summer," Papillion says.
"Some restaurants may choose to raise menu prices slightly. Of course, for most restaurants, that's a last resort."
"They may change a little bit of their menu before they raise prices," she says. "They may use different cuts of meat that, maybe aren't as expensive."
The Agriculture Department predicts retail beef prices will likely rise 4 percent to 5 percent this year following a 10 percent increase in 2011.
"So, you'll see some experimentation in chicken options, from fast food, I think, even up to your table-service restaurants."
And, Papillion says you're likely to see the trend continue into the winter months.
"Roasted chicken and chicken stew are comfort foods that people tend to gravitate to when the weather turns cooler."
"The national trends are pointing to more chicken on the menu for the fall, because it's cheaper than the beef," says Erica Papillion, with the Louisiana Restaurant Association.
"Commodity prices have been rising, especially in the beef market. So, chicken breasts remain an affordable option for restaurants to use whenever they're re-tooling their menus."
Beef prices, already at near-record highs, are expected to be driven up for the second year in a row this year because of a limited supply of cattle.
"And, of course, we had that terrible drought this past summer in the midwest with the corn, which is a feed for beef. So, the beef prices are starting to rise."
The change has already begun at some eateries.
"More casual restaurants and even fast food restaurants...they've been starting to roll out new chicken options since the summer," Papillion says.
"Some restaurants may choose to raise menu prices slightly. Of course, for most restaurants, that's a last resort."
"They may change a little bit of their menu before they raise prices," she says. "They may use different cuts of meat that, maybe aren't as expensive."
The Agriculture Department predicts retail beef prices will likely rise 4 percent to 5 percent this year following a 10 percent increase in 2011.
"So, you'll see some experimentation in chicken options, from fast food, I think, even up to your table-service restaurants."
And, Papillion says you're likely to see the trend continue into the winter months.
"Roasted chicken and chicken stew are comfort foods that people tend to gravitate to when the weather turns cooler."
"The new trend has been the better burger. Well now, there's also the better chicken. They're coming out with a little bit more upscale options for chicken like wraps and different kinds of sandwiches with different kinds of sauces."
