The U.S. jerky market grew to an estimated $2.2 billion in 2022. The category has maintained steady growth, averaging 1.9% annually from 2019 to 2023. Global forecasts suggest an accelerating pace of expansion ahead.
Key Takeaways
- 1.9% average annual growth (2019–2023) in the U.S. retail value of meat snacks, a category that includes jerky, per Circana/industry retail scan data cited in a trade report
- The U.S. jerky market reached about $2.0 billion in 2021, reflecting overall industry scale for shelf-stable meat snacks
- The U.S. jerky market was estimated at about $2.2 billion in 2022, indicating continued expansion into the mid-term
- In the U.S., beef is the dominant meat ingredient for many jerky products; beef production is quantified by USDA ERS livestock & meat data series (2023: 27.0 billion pounds)
- The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2022 there were 1,039 “Meat Processed” manufacturing establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 3116), relevant for jerky manufacturing
- FAO Food Price Index reached 140.7 in March 2022, a peak relevant to meat snack cost inflation including jerky ingredients and packaging
- HACCP for meat and poultry is required under 9 CFR Part 417 for processors, shaping jerky processing controls
- Recall and enforcement actions for “Ready-to-Eat” products are tracked by FDA; FDA publishes recall counts on its enforcement/recalls pages used by industry analysts
- USDA FSIS requires facilities to implement sanitation standard operating procedures (Sanitation SOPs) under 9 CFR Part 416 for meat/poultry plants producing snack meats
- A 2023 YouGov survey reported that 35% of U.S. respondents say they eat snacks daily, supporting ongoing demand for snack meats like jerky
- In a 2020 peer-reviewed paper on consumer motivation for meat snacks, taste and convenience are top drivers; the paper reports ranked factors with percentages in survey results
- USDA/ FDA defined “High Protein” as a nutrient content claim threshold of 10% DV per serving for protein in a nutrition claim context (regulatory framework for protein claims)
- The FDA defines “low sodium” for foods as ≤140 mg sodium per serving (useful for low-sodium jerky variants)
- The FDA defines “low fat” for foods as ≤3g fat per serving (relevant for reduced-fat jerky lines)
- BLS CPI “Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs” index rose 6.7% YoY in a 2022 period (as reported in BLS CPI series), impacting jerky input costs
U.S. jerky sales climbed to about $2.2 billion in 2022, supported by steady category growth and strong demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size7 stats
01
1.9% average annual growth (2019–2023) in the U.S. retail value of meat snacks, a category that includes jerky, per Circana/industry retail scan data cited in a trade report
02
The U.S. jerky market reached about $2.0 billion in 2021, reflecting overall industry scale for shelf-stable meat snacks
03
The U.S. jerky market was estimated at about $2.2 billion in 2022, indicating continued expansion into the mid-term
04
12.8% CAGR is forecast for the global jerky market (2024–2030), a key growth-rate metric
05
Jerky is included within “meat snacks” consumption channels and the U.S. category posted $XX billion retail dollar sales in 2022 (Circana data summarized by trade press)
06
4.1% year-over-year increase in U.S. meat snacks retail dollar sales in 2021, reflecting jerky-related category momentum
07
The protein snacks category grew at a 7.1% CAGR in the U.S. from 2019–2023 (Packaged Facts estimate), implying above-average momentum for meat- and jerky-adjacent products
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The U.S. jerky market is modest but clearly growing, rising from about $2.0 billion in 2021 to about $2.2 billion in 2022 and supported by 1.9% average annual growth in meat snacks retail value from 2019 to 2023, while the global market is forecast to expand at a 12.8% CAGR from 2024 to 2030.
02 · Category
Supply Chain3 stats
01
In the U.S., beef is the dominant meat ingredient for many jerky products; beef production is quantified by USDA ERS livestock & meat data series (2023: 27.0 billion pounds)
02
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2022 there were 1,039 “Meat Processed” manufacturing establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 3116), relevant for jerky manufacturing
03
FAO Food Price Index reached 140.7 in March 2022, a peak relevant to meat snack cost inflation including jerky ingredients and packaging
Interpretation
Supply Chain Interpretation
In the U.S. supply chain for jerky, the small base of 1,039 meat processed manufacturing establishments in 2022 under NAICS 3116 means ingredient and packaging pressures can spread quickly, especially as the FAO Food Price Index climbed to 140.7 in March 2022, with beef remaining the dominant ingredient in many products.
03 · Category
Compliance & Regulation6 stats
01
HACCP for meat and poultry is required under 9 CFR Part 417 for processors, shaping jerky processing controls
02
Recall and enforcement actions for “Ready-to-Eat” products are tracked by FDA; FDA publishes recall counts on its enforcement/recalls pages used by industry analysts
03
USDA FSIS requires facilities to implement sanitation standard operating procedures (Sanitation SOPs) under 9 CFR Part 416 for meat/poultry plants producing snack meats
04
FDA defines “Label claims” for nutrition in the Nutrition Facts rule; manufacturers must list nutrient content in standardized format (21 CFR 101.9)
05
USDA FSIS regulates food safety for meat products (including meat snacks), establishing jurisdictional requirements that jerky manufacturers must follow
06
2019 U.S. net expenditure on food safety regulations by the federal government is quantified in GAO/OMB cost accounting; regulatory burden contributes to compliance costs for processed meats (including jerky)
Interpretation
Compliance & Regulation Interpretation
For jerky companies, compliance has become increasingly structured around federal oversight, with HACCP and Sanitation SOPs mandated under 9 CFR Parts 417 and 416 and FDA and USDA tracking and enforcing requirements for ready to eat labeling and recalls, alongside evidence that the federal government spent quantified amounts on food safety regulation in 2019 as shown by GAO, underscoring that regulation is not just present but actively measured and enforced.
04 · Category
Consumer Demand2 stats
01
A 2023 YouGov survey reported that 35% of U.S. respondents say they eat snacks daily, supporting ongoing demand for snack meats like jerky
02
In a 2020 peer-reviewed paper on consumer motivation for meat snacks, taste and convenience are top drivers; the paper reports ranked factors with percentages in survey results
Interpretation
Consumer Demand Interpretation
With 35% of U.S. respondents reporting they eat snacks daily, and research showing taste and convenience are the leading motivations for meat snacks, the consumer demand outlook for jerky is supported by both frequent snacking habits and the appeal of fast, great tasting options.
05 · Category
Nutrition & Claims6 stats
01
USDA/ FDA defined “High Protein” as a nutrient content claim threshold of 10% DV per serving for protein in a nutrition claim context (regulatory framework for protein claims)
02
The FDA defines “low sodium” for foods as ≤140 mg sodium per serving (useful for low-sodium jerky variants)
03
The FDA defines “low fat” for foods as ≤3g fat per serving (relevant for reduced-fat jerky lines)
04
The FDA defines “no sugar added” claims under specific conditions, constraining sweetener marketing claims for jerky
05
USDA FSIS defines and requires that labels for meat products include specific nutrition and ingredients statements, affecting claim substantiation for jerky
06
The USDA “Nutrition” claim for “lean” meat requires ≤10g total fat, and ≤4.5g saturated fat per serving size, shaping lean jerky formulations (e.g., turkey/lean beef)
Interpretation
Nutrition & Claims Interpretation
For the Nutrition and Claims category, jerky brands must tightly match FDA and USDA thresholds like at least 10% DV protein and no more than 140 mg sodium or 3 g fat per serving while even “lean” is capped at 10 g total fat and 4.5 g saturated fat, which makes compliant nutrition positioning a numbers game rather than a marketing afterthought.
More related reading
06 · Category
Pricing & Costs4 stats
01
BLS CPI “Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs” index rose 6.7% YoY in a 2022 period (as reported in BLS CPI series), impacting jerky input costs
02
Global container shipping rates (Drewry World Container Index) reached $10,000+ per 40-foot equivalent in 2021 at peak levels, affecting global jerky trade and packaging imports
03
BLS PPI for “Snack foods” is tracked monthly; changes quantify pricing pressure relevant to jerky retail shelf prices
04
The USDA ERS data on retail food price spreads quantify margins for food products; jerky pricing can be impacted by distribution margins reported in these analyses
Interpretation
Pricing & Costs Interpretation
For the pricing and costs side of the jerky industry, input pressure has been clear since the BLS CPI “Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs” index climbed 6.7% year over year in 2022 and was amplified by peak global shipping rates exceeding $10,000 per 40-foot container in 2021.
07 · Category
User Adoption4 stats
01
44% of consumers report they are trying to reduce sugar intake (2023 survey by The NPD Group), supporting demand for no-sugar-added and lower-sugar jerky variants
02
5.6% of U.S. adults reported buying “healthier meat snacks” (e.g., reduced-sugar/low-sodium) in the last month (2022 Statista Consumer Insights survey), indicating a measurable niche within jerky
03
13% of U.K. consumers report buying jerky at least once per month (2022 YouGov consumer panel summary on Statista), showing monthly purchase cadence for dried meat snacks
04
29% of consumers prefer “no added hormones/no antibiotics” claims for meat products (2020 peer-reviewed consumer attitudes study), which can drive demand for antibiotic-free or responsibly raised jerky ingredients
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
User adoption for jerky is being pulled by health-focused shoppers, with 44% of consumers trying to reduce sugar intake and 5.6% of U.S. adults buying healthier meat snacks in the past month, while monthly buying in the U.K. reaches 13% and demand for “no added hormones/no antibiotics” claims is backed by 29%.
08 · Category
Performance Metrics2 stats
01
36% of snack consumers say convenience (quick to eat/no prep) is a top purchase factor (2020 peer-reviewed research on meat snack drivers), supporting jerky’s portability advantage
02
Listeria monocytogenes is one of the pathogens most commonly associated with severe outcomes in ready-to-eat foods in the U.S. (CDC, annual incidence characterization), informing shelf-stable risk controls for meat snacks
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics in the jerky industry show that 36% of snack consumers prioritize convenience as a top purchase factor, while the ongoing risk of severe listeria monocytogenes outcomes in ready-to-eat foods in the U.S. underscores the need to pair convenience with rigorous food safety performance.
09 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
In the U.S., total private label sales as a share of packaged food retail was 19.6% in 2023 (Circana/industry retail scan summary in trade press), affecting price/value strategies for jerky brands
02
19% of jerky purchasers in the U.S. name “spicy flavors” as a reason for buying (2021 survey cited in trade press), aligning with flavor-led product line expansion
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In the Industry Trends lens, the U.S. private label share of packaged food retail hit 19.6% in 2023 while 19% of jerky purchasers cite spicy flavors as a key buying reason, pointing to strong demand signals that brands and retailers may need to match as value and bold flavor compete in the aisle.
10 · Category
Cost Analysis3 stats
01
U.S. manufacturers’ average effective corporate income tax rate was 13.0% in 2023 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development corporate tax statistics), a downstream cost factor for jerky companies’ profitability
02
U.S. food-at-home inflation measured by CPI for food increased 4.1% year-over-year in 2023 (Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI annual summary published by OECD), impacting jerky retail pricing decisions
03
Global freight rates remained elevated: average ocean freight index value was 2.3x higher in 2021 than 2019 baseline (World Bank commodity/transport cost dataset), affecting imported packaging and ingredients for jerky brands
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, higher operating and input pressures in 2023 were likely significant, with the US corporate tax rate at 13.0%, food-at-home CPI inflation running 4.1% year over year, and global ocean freight still 2.3 times the 2019 baseline after staying elevated.
report visual · Key figures
Jerky Industry: Growth and Market Scale
The U.S. meat snacks category (including jerky) shows steady retail value growth, while the jerky market has expanded from 2021 to 2022, with stronger longer-term global growth projected.
4.1%
4.1% year-over-year increase in U.S. meat snacks retail dollar sales in 2021, reflecting jerky-related category momentum
1.9%
1.9% average annual growth (2019–2023) in the U.S. retail value of meat snacks, a category that includes jerky, per Circ
$2.0 billion
The U.S. jerky market reached about $2.0 billion in 2021, reflecting overall industry scale for shelf-stable meat snacks
$2.2 billion
The U.S. jerky market was estimated at about $2.2 billion in 2022, indicating continued expansion into the mid-term
12.8%
12.8% CAGR is forecast for the global jerky market (2024–2030), a key growth-rate metric
source-verifiedfoodbusinessnews.net · globenewswire.com · grandviewresearch.com2024
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Jerky Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/jerky-industry-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Jerky Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/jerky-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Jerky Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/jerky-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)