Sam’s Club is taking a risk by stocking USDA prime steaks, but it’s also a smart move because stores lose money if not enough customers want high-end steaks. Fresh meats that don’t sell before they go bad could be used in ready-to-eat meals, but this isn’t a good way to save money on expensive prime beef. However, the fact that the company decided to stock prime cuts in all of its stores shows that customers liked the test run and that the chain was able to move the cuts before they went bad.
Fresh beef, especially prime cuts, has always been a mainstay in the meat section of any grocery store. However, it is also one of the most expensive items on shoppers’ lists. As online shopping becomes more popular, stores can count on fresh meat to keep some customers coming in to do their shopping because they aren’t sure if they can trust ordering fresh meat online.
Nielsen says that fresh categories brought in over $177 billion in sales in 2017, which is almost half of all sales in brick-and-mortar stores. Fresh meat is growing at a rate of 1. 5% of per year. Some people think that alternative protein is coming fast after meat, but sales of alternative protein products are only expected to reach $5 million. 2 billion by 2020 according to a report from investor initiative FAIRR.
Besides the fact that people don’t trust mail-order beef, Sam’s Club is probably banking on the steady rise in red meat and poultry consumption across the country (the USDA estimates an average of 222 2 pounds per person in 2018, up roughly six pounds from 216. 9 pounds in 2017. This is about 10 ounces a day, which could be why people want to be sure they always have fresh meat that can be cooked quickly.
The 2018 Power of Meat report says that price per pound is still the most important thing that people think about when they are shopping for meat, even more important than how it looks. On average, prime is about five times more expensive than Choice. When people in the survey were asked to rate how much they knew and understood about the USDA beef grading system, only 20% said they felt very knowledgeable, while 20% said they only understood the basics. Grocery prices have been going up for five years now, which makes Sam’s Club’s decision to stock prime beef across the country even more of a risk.
Recently, Sam’s Club has also tried to add more local foods to its selection, which probably includes a lot of fresh ones. It expanded its same-day delivery partnership with Instacart to about 350 of its 600 stores in 2018. This could be a good option for people who like the ease of shopping online but aren’t sure about getting meat in the mail. Before that, it made its premium membership package more appealing by including free shipping on all items, including some meat products.
Where Does Sam’s Club Get Their Beef From? A Detailed Look at Their Supply Chain
As a loyal Sam’s Club shopper you may have wondered where exactly their delicious beef comes from. With all the news about food supply issues these days it’s normal to want to know more about the origins of the products you buy.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at Sam’s Club’s beef supply chain. We’ll cover where their beef is sourced from, their commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, and what sets the quality of their beef apart.
Whether you’re curious about the backstory of your burger or just want to be an informed shopper read on to learn all about Sam’s Club’s beef.
Where Does Sam’s Club Source Their Beef?
Sam’s Club proudly sources their beef from reputable processors right here in the United States These processors include
- Nebraska Beef
- National Beef
- Excel
- Swift
- IBP
- John Morrell
- Farmland
As a subsidiary of Walmart, Sam’s Club adheres to strict policies around ethical sourcing. They are committed to the humane treatment of cattle prior to slaughter. The company works hand-in-hand with suppliers to ensure they meet corporate standards for animal welfare.
Sam’s Club also understands the importance of providing high-quality meat to members. That’s why they only work with professional packers who can supply beef at the scale they require. This guarantees a consistent inventory of delicious, fresh beef for shoppers.
Why It Matters Where Your Beef Comes From
There are a few key reasons why it’s important to know where your beef is sourced from:
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Animal welfare: Understanding the source allows you to ensure cattle are treated humanely and with respect before slaughter. This impacts the quality of life of the animals.
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Safety: Knowing the origin helps you avoid potential health risks associated with poorly regulated or imported meat. With recent changes in labeling laws, this awareness is more critical than ever.
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Sustainability: Sourcing beef ethically and locally is better for the environment. You can support sustainable farmers and ranchers.
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Quality: How cattle are raised, fed, and handled impacts the taste, texture, and freshness of beef. Knowing the source helps you pick the best beef.
A Closer Look at Sam’s Club’s Trusted Beef Suppliers
As we mentioned earlier, Sam’s Club uses a handful of major processors to source their beef. Here’s a bit more detail about these suppliers:
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Nebraska Beef: One of the nation’s largest processors, they operate four facilities in Nebraska and employ over 2,800 people. Their beef is found nationwide.
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National Beef: Headquartered in Kansas City with operations across the Midwest, they are one of the biggest beef suppliers around. Their focus is on humane handling of cattle.
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Excel: A division of Cargill, they have two state-of-the-art facilities and market products worldwide. They are committed to sustainable practices.
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Swift: Now part of Brazilian company JBS, Swift in the US has two beef plants producing over 3.5 billion pounds per year. They are known for quality products.
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IBP: Currently part of Tyson Foods, IBP has its roots as a family-owned company. They have multiple facilities in the Midwest and sell high-quality beef globally.
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John Morrell: With three large facilities, this Smithfield Foods subsidiary sells pork and beef products across the US. They advertise their support for local farmers and suppliers.
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Farmland:Owned by Smithfield Foods, they have a large presence in the Midwest, partnering with family farmers. They produce retail pack meat sold under brands like Eckrich.
How Sam’s Club Beef Stacks Up: Quality, Freshness and Safety
Sam’s Club goes above and beyond to make sure their beef delivers on all fronts – quality, freshness, and safety. Here are some of the ways they make the grade:
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Strict quality standards: Sam’s Club’s suppliers must meet guidelines for marbling, yield, size, and more. This leads to consistently delicious beef.
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Close supplier relationships: By working hand-in-hand with processors, they ensure protocols are followed for humane treatment and proper feeding.
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Ongoing safety testing: Suppliers must test for pathogens and have prevention plans that meet GFSI standards. This safeguards consumers.
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State-of-the-art facilities: Sam’s Club suppliers use leading-edge technology and equipment for processing. This results in high-quality products.
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Flash freezing: Cryogenic freezing of beef locks in freshness and quality right at the source. This gives an optimal flavor.
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Rigorous sanitation: Sam’s Club audits back-end operations, packaging lines, and inventory handling to prevent contamination.
The Bottom Line: Beef You Can Trust
At the end of the day, Sam’s Club makes it their mission to provide members with quality beef they can feel good about buying. By partnering with reputable American suppliers, enforcing ethical protocols, and utilizing state-of-the-art processing, they deliver tasty beef you can trust is safe and humanely raised.
So next time you throw some Sam’s Club burgers on the grill, you can relax knowing exactly where that juicy beef came from. Their commitment to members, sustainable practices and cattle welfare means you get great-tasting beef and peace of mind with every bite.
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Shopping At SAM’S CLUB For Meat & Seafood – What To Buy & Avoid
FAQ
Does Sam’s Club get the same meat as Walmart?
Where does Costco get their beef?
Where does the beef from Walmart come from?
Where does most supermarket beef come from?
Where does Sam’s Club get its meat from?
As is the case with Walmart, Sam’s Club receives all of its meat from within the United States. Some of the beef providers of Sam’s Club include National Beef, Swift, Farmland, and Nebraska Beef, just to name a few. Sam’s Club has several animal welfare acts set up, both for grazing animals as well as chickens.
Does Sam’s Club have USDA Prime BEEF?
After a successful pilot program in 200 of its store locations during 2018, Sam’s Club told Grocery Dive in an email that it now offers USDA prime beef at all retail locations, including a variety of popular cuts like tenderloin, ribeye, striploin, sirloin and whole briskets.
Who buys Sam’s Club meat?
At the time of writing, Brian Gripe is the meat buyer for Sam’s Club. Like most grocery stores and restaurants, the club gets its meat from US-based professional packers who have a huge processing capacity to supply beef and pork at scale.
Is Sam’s Club meat the same as Walmart?
As a side note, Sam’s Club meat doesn’t necessarily come from the same suppliers as Walmart meat, even though Walmart owns Sam’s Club. According to several sources, meat prices are consistently lower at Sam’s Club for meat of a similar quality as what’s sold at Walmart. What is the highest grade of meat in the United States? Prime.