CHICAGO, HI. Cattlemen want to sell more beef at a pro fit. A retail meat manager, howev er, wants to show a department profit, regardless of which meat he sells. Can both businessmen, at oppo site ends of the beef supply pipe line, get what they want? The answer is “yes,” according to two beef checkoff-funded studies. One study found retailers can increase sales and improve meat case profits by 4 percent if they keep their cases well stocked with a variety of beef cuts. There are so many unknowns in the complex retail store process that meat managers often don’t know which factors affect retail meat case profits, the study concluded. “Many managers told us increased beef sales would not increase profits of the entire fresh meat category,” said Sheila Cour- bro«d*ap«ctruxn p*crt#otl®ii ■■■HWii !§ HbctiweeedtteatmflFitWdrtwipi^NP»oteei4raegi^ gmaffl grata cji»»w than nawrBAYTAN 30. 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Movement of beef, veal, pork, lamb, chicken, and turkey was checked seven times a day to record the quantity of each item, the price per pound, price featuring and markdowns, and to note items out of stock. The study found out-of-stocks, on average, exceeded 40 percent on 9 of the 39 beef cuts observed, but were maintained at less than 10 percent on only 5 beef cuts. The study also found when beef inventory is increased, gross mar gins in beef increase and overall fresh meat case gross margins increase. “These results may surprise some managers,” said Courington. “The study shows that, by increas- P.O.eeS^F^SeSSSf-^ ' ’ , >vV„ .v. .V 4 A "$$ Ways To Improve Beef Sales ing beef sales by 10 percent, meat managers can increase their over all profits by 4.3 percent.” Another opportunity to increase beef sales may be to use case ready meats, a second study has found. Preliminary information from the study, which is still under way, reveals that 1 in 4 consumers has tried case-ready products and 3 out of 4 consumers who try the DES MOINES, lOWA The National Pork Board, at a regular meeting March 8 in Louisville, KY, appropriated $1.25 million in supplemental producer checkoff funding for several projects. The supplemental grants are in addition to the $26.25 million already budgeted by the Pork -»»■ ■ „ $1.25 Million To Supplement products are repeat purchasers. Information already collected at the retail level includes interviews within 23 retail and wholesale companies. The study now is gathering consumer reactions in five market areas where case ready beef products are offered. This portion of the study will include 2,000 in-store interviews, SOO follow-up telephone calls, and S focus groups. Checkoff Funding Board for 1990 programs to be stlonger initially proj ected, implemented through state and ca US jng the board’s reserve funds national producer-run orgaiuza- b u ild above levels viewed by tl0 " s -. , the board as necessary. « f A breakdown of the supplemen- Schroeder of Sauk City, WI, said funding approved by the Pork the supplemental funding was at its March 8 meeting; being provided because hog prices . Nationa l p ol k Producers since last fall have been much Council (NPPC) will receive $610,000 to add five additional television target markets to the present 32 metropolitan television markets that will air Pork The Other White Meat® advertising this year. The additional funding will allow the message to reach an additional 16 million consumers. • NPPC also will recieve $llO,OOO in supplemental produc er checkoff funding to develop a non-commercial food service program by mid-year. The addi tional funds will be used to target SO of the largest non-commercial food service accounts (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.), representing about 40% of the giant food service industry. • NPPC and the Pork Industry Group of the National Livestock and Meat Board will share $200,000 in supplemental check off funds for the dissemination of information to consumers, health professionals, and producers about new pork nutrient data expected later this year. • NPPC, in association with the U.S. Meat Export Federation, will receive $135,000 for additional U.S. pork promotion in the Orient and a study of the potential for U.S. pork sales in eastern and western Europe. • NPPC will receive $145,000 to fund additional research in the animal care, molecular biology, and environmental management areas, and for a producer and con sumer information project in the animal Welfare area. • The Pork Industry Group will receive $50,000 for additional work involving nutritional research. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 7,1N0-E1 Consumers say they like the consistent quality, tenderness, and extended shelf life of the freezer ready, prepackaged beef products. More important, while there are several barriers to widespread acceptance of case-ready pro ducts, the study is finding that innovative merchandising and marketing can overcome most of these barriers, said Courington. Northrop King Promotes 2 GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. David Thomas has been promoted from director of production to vice president of production for North rup King’s worldwide field crops division. Thomas is responsible for all U.S. field crops production activi ties, and for providing production direction and support to the man agement of Northnip King’s over seas affiliate companies. Dr. Jim Mock has been named vice president of product manage ment, field crops. Mock, previous ly vice president of field crops lesearch, is responsible for organ izing and managing Northrup King’s new field crops product