2026 Midyear Trends Report Shows Strategies to Drive Growth in a Shifting Agriculture Meat, Dairy Markets

Each year, Midan releases its Top 10 Meat and Dairy Trends for the year ahead. At the start of 2026, the industry was preparing for rapid technological change, rising prices and evolving consumer behaviors.

Now, halfway through the year, Midan is tracking how those market dynamics are unfolding in real time. More importantly, the company is providing data-backed, actionable strategies to help brands navigate these changes and finish the year strong.

Executive Summary: The 2026 Midyear Shifts

• The Zero-Click Reality: AI is rapidly compressing the path to purchase, meaning brands must optimize for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) alongside traditional SEO—not instead of it.
• Volume Pressure & Category Trading: Beef’s volume resilience is showing signs of strain as record-high prices drive a decline in volume. Shoppers are trading down within categories and shifting from ground beef to more affordable ground pork and chicken.
• Sustainability as a Standard: Sustainable agriculture practices are no longer a niche differentiator—they are now a baseline expectation for building brand trust.

Trend #1: How Are Consumers Using AI for Grocery Shopping in 2026?

It’s impossible to discuss 2026 without talking about AI. It is influencing virtually every aspect of consumers’ lives.

At the beginning of the year, Midan predicted “Goodbye Google, The Consumer Journey Starts with AI,” forecasting that the shift from traditional search engines to cognitive search would transform how consumers discover and purchase products.

Midyear Update

The transition is accelerating even faster than anticipated.

E-commerce is evolving rapidly, and the zero-click buying era is expected to dominate throughout the remainder of 2026. For years, marketers focused on ranking highly in search results to generate clicks. Today, AI-generated answers often provide consumers with everything they need without ever visiting a website.

According to SparkToro, 68.01% of all Google searches during the first four months of 2026 resulted in zero clicks, meaning users never left the search results page.

AI is also changing online shopping behavior. Adobe Digital Insights reports that AI-driven traffic to retail websites increased 393% year over year during Q1 2026, while 80% of consumers who use AI for shopping say they rely on AI assistants more than they previously did.

Research from IBM and the National Retail Federation found that:

• 41% of consumers use AI assistants to research products.
• 33% use AI to read reviews.
• 31% use AI to search for deals.

AI can also recommend products and simplify purchasing through one-click checkout.

Trend #2: Are Consumers Still Buying Beef Despite Record-High Prices?

Earlier this year, Midan predicted “Beef Prices Surge as Supply Shrinks, Creating Opportunities Across the Meat Case.”

Shrinking supply and other market pressures suggested beef prices would continue climbing throughout 2026.

Midyear Update

That prediction has proven accurate.

USDA estimates released in June project U.S. beef production at approximately 25.438 billion pounds in 2026, down from roughly 26 billion pounds in 2025.

Several factors—including declining supply, inflation, halted imports, drought and higher fuel costs—have pushed fresh beef prices to record levels.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, beef and veal prices increased 1.2% in June 2026 and were 11.8% higher than one year earlier.

Through May, beef maintained strong dollar sales and retail volume despite rising prices. However, recent data suggests consumers may be reaching their limits.

Circana data published by Meatingplace shows that in June:

• Fresh beef dollar sales increased 5.6%.
• Fresh beef volume declined 1.7% year over year.

The greatest pressure is appearing in the ground meat category.

While many shoppers have turned to ground meats as affordable protein options, ground beef in July 2026 costs nearly twice as much per pound as ground pork or ground chicken.

As a result:

• Ground beef dollar sales increased 9.1%.
• Ground beef volume declined 3.3%.
• Ground chicken and ground pork both experienced increases in dollars and volume.

Although one month does not establish a long-term trend, the decline in ground beef volume may indicate consumers have reached their price ceiling.

For Beef Brands

• Emphasize beef’s nutritional value, versatility and position as the centerpiece of family meals.
• Promote “weeknight hero” value bundles during back-to-school season.
• In foodservice, develop value meal bundles or “under $X” menu options.

For Pork & Chicken Brands

• Highlight affordability and versatility.
• Feature familiar recipes directly on packaging.
• Reinforce messaging through organic and paid digital content showcasing flavor, protein and easy meal preparation.

Consumer Targeting

• Utilize Midan’s Consumer Segmentation Research to reach audiences based on purchasing behaviors.
• For example, “Connected Trendsetters” respond well to premium grinds and value-added products because they actively seek innovative and convenient food experiences.

Trend #3: How Can Meat and Dairy Brands Showcase Sustainability?

At the beginning of 2026, Midan predicted sustainability would evolve from a marketing advantage into a basic consumer expectation.

Midyear Update

That trend continues to accelerate across agriculture, including both meat and dairy.

At retail, broad sustainability messaging is increasingly being replaced by more specific claims focused on regenerative agriculture.

According to Innova Market Insights, global food and beverage product launches carrying regenerative agriculture claims achieved a 44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2021 and 2025.

Read more about the report here.