--- title: "Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries" description: "The Frontline Factor — This summer, meat eaters are feeling the pinch as the cost of goods and services continue to command a premium of their pockets. As a…" lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/#organization", "name": "The Frontline Factor", "alternateName": [ "Frontline Factor", "TFF" ], "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/og-image.jpg" }, "description": "The Frontline Factor is a digital publication delivering actionable frameworks, industry intelligence, and leadership insights for frontline leaders in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.", "knowsAbout": [ "Frontline workforce leadership", "Retail operations", "Manufacturing operations", "Healthcare workforce", "Logistics operations", "HR leadership", "HR technology", "Employee engagement", "Workforce retention", "Frontline productivity" ], "publishingPrinciples": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/mission", "ethicsPolicy": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/mission", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefrontlinefactor" ], "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "email": "hello@thefrontlinefactor.com", "contactType": "customer service" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/#website", "name": "The Frontline Factor", "alternateName": "Frontline Factor", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com", "description": "The Frontline Factor — actionable frameworks and leadership insights for frontline leaders in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.", "publisher": { "@id": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/insights?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries", "description": "This summer, meat eaters are feeling the pinch as the cost of goods and services continue to command a premium of their pockets. As a result, many are skipping out on their favorite lamb shank, or steak. The question is: how does this affect the way operators price, organize and promote meat items?", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saj Hoffman-Hussain" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/#organization", "name": "The Frontline Factor", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/og-image.jpg" } }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/#website" }, "datePublished": "2026-08-17T18:07:49.963+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-25T15:43:42.570963+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/article/steaks-are-high-on-the-frontline-customers-cant-afford-groceries" }, "articleSection": "Workforce Trends", "keywords": "inventory-management, economic-trends, customer-experience, cross-selling", "image": "https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/assets/og/49582cad98d0bd81-1200x630.jpg", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "#speakable-frontline-summary", ".speakable-key-takeaway", "#the-frontline-take" ] } }, [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Claim", "text": "According to research firm Circana, who commissioned a study on the trend, there has been a slight but significant decrease in beef sales volume by around a 0.3% since last July.", "datePublished": "2026-08-17T18:07:49.963+00:00", "appearance": { "@type": "WebPage", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/article/steaks-are-high-on-the-frontline-customers-cant-afford-groceries" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saj Hoffman-Hussain" }, "isPartOf": { "@type": "Article", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/article/steaks-are-high-on-the-frontline-customers-cant-afford-groceries", "headline": "Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Claim", "text": "In the same stretch of the previous two years, volumes grew about 5%, so it can be viewed as at least a declining factor.", "datePublished": "2026-08-17T18:07:49.963+00:00", "appearance": { "@type": "WebPage", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/article/steaks-are-high-on-the-frontline-customers-cant-afford-groceries" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saj Hoffman-Hussain" }, "isPartOf": { "@type": "Article", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/article/steaks-are-high-on-the-frontline-customers-cant-afford-groceries", "headline": "Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Claim", "text": "So instead of 5% of steaks make it make 5% off a bag of potatoes when you buy a steak.", "datePublished": "2026-08-17T18:07:49.963+00:00", "appearance": { "@type": "WebPage", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/article/steaks-are-high-on-the-frontline-customers-cant-afford-groceries" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saj Hoffman-Hussain" }, "isPartOf": { "@type": "Article", "url": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/article/steaks-are-high-on-the-frontline-customers-cant-afford-groceries", "headline": "Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries" } } ], { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Insights", "item": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/insights" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Workforce Trends", "item": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com/insights?category=Workforce%20Trends" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries", "item": "https://thefrontlinefactor.com" } ] } ] --- Accessibility [← Return to Home](/) [![The Frontline Factor - HR's View From The Floor](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iODAwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjIwMCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDgwMCAyMDAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+CiAgPHRleHQgeD0iNDAwIiB5PSI5MCIgZm9udC1mYW1pbHk9IlNlcmlmLCBHZW9yZ2lhLCAnVGltZXMgTmV3IFJvbWFuJyIgZm9udC1zaXplPSI1NCIgZm9udC13ZWlnaHQ9ImJvbGQiIHRleHQtYW5jaG9yPSJtaWRkbGUiPgogICAgPHRzcGFuIGZpbGw9IiMyMjIyMjIiPlRoZSA8L3RzcGFuPgogICAgPHRzcGFuIGZpbGw9IiNEOTVEMzkiPkZyb250bGluZSA8L3RzcGFuPgogICAgPHRzcGFuIGZpbGw9IiMyMjIyMjIiPkZhY3RvcjwvdHNwYW4+CiAgPC90ZXh0PgogIAogIDxsaW5lIHgxPSIxODAiIHkxPSIxMjAiIHgyPSI2MjAiIHkyPSIxMjAiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzMzMzMyIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+CiAgCiAgPHRleHQgeD0iNDAwIiB5PSIxNTUiIGZvbnQtZmFtaWx5PSJzYW5zLXNlcmlmLCBBcmlhbCwgSGVsdmV0aWNhIiBmb250LXNpemU9IjE4IiBmaWxsPSIjNjY2NjY2IiB0ZXh0LWFuY2hvcj0ibWlkZGxlIiBsZXR0ZXItc3BhY2luZz0iNSI+CiAgICBIUiAmYW1wOyBPUFMgVklFVyBGUk9NIFRIRSBGTE9PUgogIDwvdGV4dD4KPC9zdmc+)](/) Search... ⌘K ![The Frontline Factor](data:image/svg+xml;base64,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) Breaking Target has appointed its first-ever AI chief, poaching them from Lowe's Updated 15 days ago • Tap for summary Navigate [Home](/)[Our Mission](/about#mission)[Insights](/insights)[Data Vault](/datavault)[Frontline Data Sheets](/resources?type=data-report)[Podcast](/podcast) Explore Industries [Manufacturing](/industries/manufacturing)[Retail Industry](/industries/retail)[Healthcare](/industries/healthcare)[Logistics](/industries/logistics) About [Our Mission](/about#mission)[Editorial Team](/editorial-team)[Contact Us](/contact)[Advertise](/contact?topic=advertise) Search articles... [Subscribe to Newsletter ](/subscribe) ↑↓ Navigate • Esc Close • Swipe to dismiss Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries 0% ~5 min left 1. [Home](/) 2. [Insights](/insights) 3. [Workforce Trends](/insights?category=Workforce%20Trends) 4. Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries [Back to Insights](/insights) New Article Workforce Trends # Steaks Are High on the Frontline: Customers Can't Afford Groceries [Saj Hoffman-Hussain](/author/saj-hoffman-hussain) Published August 17, 2026 Subscribe 4 5 min read ![Featured image for Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries](https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/assets/1786989841968-closeup-shot-white-cows-grazing-fields.jpg) 0 ![Saj Hoffman-Hussain](https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/assets/1767758577381-0113D7E6-00F9-45B1-8D25-ECE3D961711C_1_105_c.jpeg) [Saj Hoffman-Hussain](/author/saj-hoffman-hussain)Editor-in-Chief @ The Frontline Factor [](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sajad-hoffman-hussain/) From The Frontline Factor The Frontline Factor — This summer, meat eaters are feeling the pinch as the cost of goods and services continue to command a premium of their pockets. As a result, many are skipping out on their favorite lamb shank, or steak. The question is: how does this affect the way operators price, organize and promote meat items? Contents 1. [Raw deal: cold cuts claims customers cash ](#raw-deal-cold-cuts-claims-customers-cash) 2. [Sirloin seems to be the hardest word: justifying pricing and adapting to customer realities on the floor ](#sirloin-seems-to-be-the-hardest-word-justifying-pricing-and-adapting-to-customer-realities-on-the-floor) 3. [Less beefing, more lean learning ](#less-beefing-more-lean-learning) 4. [The Frontline Take ](#the-frontline-take) Share Discussion 0 Key Takeaway While retailers can't control for economic fluctuations completely, they can manage shopper expectations and work around them creatively. Looking ahead, economic volatility is set to continue as are prices, but there are ways to bridge that gap. ![Key takeaway illustration for Steaks are High on the Frontline: Customers can't afford groceries](https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/assets/1786989841968-closeup-shot-white-cows-grazing-fields.jpg) In This Article 1. [01 Raw deal: cold cuts claims customers cash ](#raw-deal-cold-cuts-claims-customers-cash) 2. [02 Sirloin seems to be the hardest word: justifying pricing and adapting to customer realities on the floor ](#sirloin-seems-to-be-the-hardest-word-justifying-pricing-and-adapting-to-customer-realities-on-the-floor) 3. [03 Less beefing, more lean learning ](#less-beefing-more-lean-learning) 4. [04 The Frontline Take ](#the-frontline-take) Share Twitter LinkedInCopy Discussion 0 ## Raw deal: cold cuts claims customers cash Two years of surging meat prices have left Americans hungry in the house, and empty in the pocket. According to research firm Circana, who commissioned a study on the trend, there has been a slight but significant decrease in beef sales volume by around a 0.3% since last July. It's nominal but significant. In the same stretch of the previous two years, volumes grew about 5%, so it can be viewed as at least a declining factor. This follows a general trend of increasing food prices; who doesn't remember some version of egg-gate? The offset of this is that consumers are buying less meat and worrying more about the cost of it. Not great news for them, and certainly not great for operating margins. ## Sirloin seems to be the hardest word: justifying pricing and adapting to customer realities on the floor The knock on effect: if you're an operator or retail associate trying to get people into your store (and keep them there), you need to think about what tools are available to help. Make good use of endcaps and combine deals with higher perceived value lower cost items. So instead of 5% of steaks make it make 5% off a bag of potatoes when you buy a steak. The customer gets a deal, and the store gets to sell both items. ## Less beefing, more lean learning Education around price changes can also help to reassure worried buyers that the price increases aren't permanent. [Understanding what they want, and responding to that is key.](https://mcamerchandising.com/en/how-to-approach-customers-in-retail-sales/) That obviously includes [educating your team, preparing scripts](/article/retail-ai-ambition-is-outpacing-frontline-readiness) for common questions and concerns to do with the cost of goods. Finally, being judicious about repurposing cuts of meat for example by making use of repurposing facilities like specialist surplus food buyers who can turn excess food into animal feed. There are other creative ways to redivert stock, such as donating overstock to local food pantries; it depends on your business model what pros and cons you see with each method. ## The Frontline Take While retailers can't control for economic fluctuations completely, they can manage shopper expectations and work around them creatively. Looking ahead, e[conomic volatility is set to continue as are prices,](https://talkbusiness.net/2026/08/consumer-prices-rose-3-4-in-july-from-a-year-ago/) but there are ways to bridge that gap. Key Takeaway While retailers can't control for economic fluctuations completely, they can manage shopper expectations and work around them creatively. Looking ahead, economic volatility is set to continue as are prices, but there are ways to bridge that gap. ![Key takeaway](https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/assets/1786989841968-closeup-shot-white-cows-grazing-fields.jpg) ## Related Articles [ ![Returns, Refunds, and Retail Rage. Hold the Frontline.](https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/assets/1786421315874-young-woman-model-carrying-lot-shopping-bags.jpg) ### Returns, Refunds, and Retail Rage. Hold the Frontline. Returns, refunds, and rage. From January 2027, large New York retailers must install silent response buttons. The law handles the incident. It does nothing about the slow version, the ordinary Tuesday that quietly returns a different person to their family. Published Aug 11, 2026 5 min ](/article/returns-refunds-and-retail-rage-hold-the-frontline)[ ![The Shelf Talks Back on Digital Tags: What Walmart Associates Are Telling Us on Social Media](https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/assets/1774288712140-storetagphoto.jpg) ### The Shelf Talks Back on Digital Tags: What Walmart Associates Are Telling Us on Social Media Walmart's digital shelf label rollout is now landing on the floor and associates are starting to talk. Their early feedback reveals a familiar pattern in retail tech deployments: the bigger the headquarters bet, the more friction shows up at the shelf edge. Published Jun 4, 2026 5 min ](/article/the-shelf-talks-back-walmart-digital-labels-frontline-reality)[ ![Unified Commerce, Come Together Right Now: What It Means for the Retail Frontline](https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/assets/1777001316405-young-woman-new-york-city-daytime.jpg) ### Unified Commerce, Come Together Right Now: What It Means for the Retail Frontline One customer. Four systems. A frustrated associate. Here's what unified commerce actually changes on the store floor ... and why HR and Ops leaders should care. Published Apr 24, 2026 5 min ](/article/unified-commerce-come-together-right-now-what-it-means-for-the-retail-frontline) Trending Now Executive Briefing Stay Ahead of Frontline Transformation Monthly insights for retail and manufacturing leaders — research-backed strategies delivered to your inbox. Subscribe No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. CONTRIBUTE ### Write for The Frontline Factor Share your frontline insights with thousands of HR, Ops, and Finance leaders. We welcome practitioner perspectives, case learnings, and data-backed analysis from the field. [Submit a Pitch](/contact) Exclusive Frontline Tools [ Exclusive Data Vault Access exclusive workforce data and analytics ](/datavault) AI Assistant HR GPT AI-powered HR assistant for quick answers The Frontline Factor **The Frontline Factor** empowers HR and operations leaders across retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics with insights to transform frontline operations. [What is The Frontline Factor?](/what-is-the-frontline-factor) [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefrontlinefactor)[](mailto:news@thefrontlinefactor.com) Industry - [Retail](/industries/retail) - [Manufacturing](/industries/manufacturing) - [Healthcare](/industries/healthcare) - [Logistics](/industries/logistics) Topics - [Retention](/insights?topic=Retention) - [Culture](/insights?topic=Culture) - [Talent Development]() - [Safety & Compliance](/insights?topic=Safety%20%26%20Compliance) - [Productivity](/insights?topic=Productivity) Legal - [How We Use Your Data](/how-we-use-your-data) - [Cookies](/cookies) - [Terms of Use](/terms-of-use) - Cookie Preferences Sitemap: [Home](/)• [Insights](/insights)• [Resources](/resources)• [Data Vault](/datavault)• [Subscribe](/subscribe)• [Mission](/mission)• [Contact](/contact)• [About](/about)• [What is The Frontline Factor?](/what-is-the-frontline-factor)• [Editorial Team](/editorial-team)• [XML Sitemap](https://ltxhatjzliqihghpxxhe.supabase.co/functions/v1/generate-sitemap) © 2026 The Frontline Factor. All rights reserved. Back to top