Rising demand for meat is placing pressure on food supply chains and contributing to record levels of meat waste, with global losses projected to reach $94 billion this year, according to data from Avery Dennison.
Pressure from unpredictable demand
Data shows that 67 per cent of retailers continue to manage food inventory using manual methods, limiting accuracy and control. As meat demand rises, these gaps are contributing to higher levels of waste.
Visibility gaps come as consumer behaviour becomes harder to predict. One quarter of retailers report difficulty meeting rising demand for meat, partly linked to protein-focused diets. At the same time, 30 per cent said reluctance among shoppers to purchase meat close to its expiry date is adding to the challenge.
“Amid growing volatility and higher consumer expectations, every inefficiency in the food supply chain, every wasted pallet, unsold shipment, or stockout, is felt more sharply than ever,” said Luna Atamian Hahn-Petersen, senior manager of sustainability strategy at Accenture.
Financial impact
Economic models project that meat waste will cost retailers $94 billion globally this year and could rise to $103 billion per year by 2030. This represents the most costly category in the grocery supply chain, exceeding fresh produce at $88 billion and bakery products at $67 billion.
Almost three in four industry leaders said managing meat-related waste is their main operational challenge. In addition, 74 per cent said inflation is making demand forecasting more difficult, increasing the risk of over-ordering. Most retailers also reported that manual stock counts require labour and are prone to errors, while 79 per cent see value in investing in innovation to reduce costs.
Inventory modernisation
Some companies have tested technology to address these issues. Walmart has partnered with Avery Dennison to deploy RFID labels in its meat department, allowing faster and more accurate inventory tracking. Digital use-by date information also supports product rotation and markdown decisions.
Julie Vargas, VP and GM of enterprise intelligent labels at Avery Dennison, said inventory management modernisation is one of the fastest levers to reduce financial loss and environmental impact. She said the ‘protein craze’ is forcing retailers to adjust assortments without sufficient data, leading to over-ordering and avoidable waste.
“Technology is able to turn uncertainty into actionable insight, enabling teams to anticipate demand, intervene earlier, and protect both margin and supply chain resilience,” she said.
If current trends continue, cumulative global food waste costs between 2025 and 2030 could reach $3.4 trillion. More than one quarter of industry leaders said they do not expect to meet the target of halving food waste, and one in ten companies has paused related initiatives.
