Chapter 5: Consumption

• 5.1 Canadian Turkey Consumption
  
  
  • 5.1.1 Per-capita turkey consumption
  • 5.1.2 Seasonal turkey consumption
  • 5.1.3 Canadian protein consumption
    
    
• 5.2 Comparative Consumption in Other Countries
  
  
• 5.3 Consumption of Turkey versus Other Meats
  
  
• 5.4 Price Indexes
  
  
• 5.5 Retail Trade
  
  • 5.5.1 Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors (CCGD)
    
• 5.6 Food Services
  
  • 5.6.1 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA)

5.1 Canadian Turkey Consumption

Turkey consumption (on a per capita basis) has been relatively stable over the past 20 years. According to Statistics Canada, total domestic turkey consumption was 133,930,000 kg in 2002, compared with 97,755,000 kg in 1982. This increase of 37% is mainly due to population growth in the country and sustained demand of turkey among Canadians.

5.1.1 Per-capita Turkey Consumption

As Graph 2 shows, per-capita turkey consumption has remained fairly stable over the past 20 years, from 4.0 kg in 1983 to 4.2 kg in 2003, an overall increase of 5%. There was, however, a period between 1984 and 1992 where the per capita consumption rose by 17% (or .67 kg per person). This period was then followed by a decrease in consumption from 1993 to 1996 of 5.7% (or .25 kg per person).

Graph 2 - Per capita Consumption of Turkey
(kg - eviscerated weight)

Source: Statistics Canada, table 002-0011

5.1.2 Seasonal Turkey Consumption

Traditionally speaking, turkey consumption has peaked during Christmas and Thanksgiving. Indeed, the seasonal curve is typified by maximum production and consumption around the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

That being said, the trend of turkey consumption comes in the form of deli-meat. Products such as sliced turkey breast, drumsticks, sausage and boneless rolls, are gaining in popularity and increasing consumption throughout the year.

5.1.3 Canadian Protein Consumption

Meat is the main source of protein in Canada , and the share of poultry consumed is steadily growing (largely explained by the explosion of chicken consumption during the last two decades). According to Statistics Canada, the level of proteins available from the Canadian food supply reached 108 grams of proteins per day per capita compared to 100 grams in 1990. Since 1976, poultry consumption has risen more than 80% in Canada , whereas beef consumption has fallen by 39% during the same period.

5.2 Comparative consumption in other countries

According to data compiled by the US Department of Agriculture, Canada ranks fourth in the world in absolute turkey consumption behind the United States , the European Union and Mexico . Combined, the United States and the European Union account for 88% of the world turkey consumption.

^ppreliminary ^fforecast

Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Source: CTMA

5.3 Consumption of turkey versus other meats

The total amount of meat eaten in Canada has been very stable from 1983 to 2003. During this period, Canadians consumed an average of 92 to 98 kg of meat annually. The consumption statistics confirm that the increased consumption of one meat generally occurred at the expense of another.

Beef consumption for example, peaked in the mid-1970s, but has since declined steadily. From 1983 to 2003, per-capita beef consumption has dropped by 19%. Pork consumption has remained fairly stable during the same period even though it has experienced some highs and lows. Consumers have substituted poultry meat (chicken in particular) for these products, which has stabilized the overall meat consumption figure.

In 2003, the various meats ranked as follows in per-capita consumption: beef, 32.0 kg; chicken, 30.5 kg; pork, 25.2 kg; turkey, 4.2 kg; mature chicken, 1.7 kg; veal, 1.3 kg; lamb, 1.1 kg⁴.

5.4 Price indexes

The Canadian turkey industry is affected by a number of costs as reflected by various price indexes including the farm input price index (FIPI), raw materials price index (RMPI), industrial product price index (IPPI), and the better known consumer price index (CPI).

The FIPI can be viewed as the production inputs index while the RMPI and IPPI as processing inputs cost indexes, and the CPI as the cost to the consumer. Based on these groups, we can distinguish market trends and their potential impacts on the consumer price index.

Cost of production inputs have risen in the last 10 years, especially for livestock feed, which increased dramatically in late 1995 and early 1996. On the other hand, the cost of poults, the other main input, has remained relatively stable over the same period.

Input costs for turkey processors have remained relatively stable since the early 1980s. Interestingly, the RMPI has been declining the last five years while the IPPI has been increasing during the same period in the turkey industry.

The following table offers a picture of the variations in retail food prices, including the major meat commodities:

5.5 Retail trade

5.5.1 Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors (CCGD)

http://www.ccgd.ca

The CCGD is a non-profit association representing distributors and stakeholders in the Canadian food and grocery products industry. The Council works to promote its members' economic well-being by delivering the best value to consumers and serving community needs with integrity.

CCGD members make up over 80% of those involved in the food distribution industry in Canada . They include both large and small retail and wholesale enterprises and grocery chain operators, as well as allied members providing products and support services to the rest of the industry. The CCGD's mission is "to advance and promote its members' economic well-being and help them to deliver the best possible value to Canadian consumers".

The CCGD brings together the industry's collective skills and knowledge to advance public policy initiatives of value to its members, ensure the industry has the best possible regulatory environment, and develop and implement standards and best practices that benefit both its members and consumers.

5.6 Food Services

5.6.1 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA)

http://www.crfa.ca

The CRFA, which was founded in 1944, is the largest hospitality association in Canada and represents over 17,000 member businesses. CRFA members include restaurants, fast food outlets, hotels, caterers, institutions, educators and foodservices suppliers.

The CRFA provides a variety of services to members, including government lobbying, human resources development, professional development programs, industry research and market information, group buying programs, and the staging of national hospitality trade shows.

4. The data on consumption used for these comparisons are expressed in eviscerated weight for poultry and carcass weight for beef, pork, veal and lamb.
   

Important Notices

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