Poultry, egg industry responds to consumer-driven challenges

Whether it’s antibiotic-free (ABF) or no antibiotics ever (NAE) production, slow growth, transparent labeling, legal issues, animal welfare, etc., Lenarz said these are all consumer-driven challenges, and the question has become, “How do we respond to them?” The industry has responded, he noted.“We’ve got consumer activist groups that are pressuring our customers, so we’ve had to adjust to satisfy our customers,” he said. “It’s been amazing, in my time in the industry, to watch how we’ve responded and how quickly we can turn on a dime and get that customer what they want.”According to Lenarz, the poultry and egg businesses are a customer-driven business model: “We respond to what the consumer wants and needs — and we are evolving.”As the chicken has evolved, so has the poultry business, he added.Specific to meat, Lenarz pointed out that the result of being a customer-driven industry is that chicken consumption has surpassed pork and beef consumption.Now, however, there is a new challenge: More meat will be produced.