Key Takeaways
- Meat snack sales have grown more than 45% over the past four years, reaching $4.4 billion annually, according to Circana data cited in a new CoBank Knowledge Exchange report.
- Over $1 billion in additional meat snack processing capacity has been announced since 2020, including a $450 million Jack Link's plant in Georgia and new Chomps facilities in Missouri and Nebraska.
- GLP-1 medication adoption and broader consumer interest in high-protein, convenient, clean-label foods are identified as key demand drivers for the category.
- Beef supply constraints from a contracting US cattle herd are creating openings for pork, poultry, and alternative proteins to expand in the meat snack category.
- Meat snacks have broadened their consumer base beyond the traditional young male demographic, with Chomps reporting that 70% of its consumers are now female.
CoBank Report: Meat Snack Sales Hit $4.4 Billion as Protein Demand and GLP-1 Trends Accelerate Growth
A new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange identifies meat snacks as a major area for product innovation within the animal protein sector, as a combination of GLP-1 medication use, rising protein awareness, and consumer demand for convenient, clean-label foods drives the category to record sales. Meat snack revenues have grown more than 45% over the past four years, reaching $4.4 billion annually according to Circana, triggering over $1 billion in new processing investment since 2020.
Major capacity announcements include a $450 million Jack Link's plant in Georgia and new Chomps manufacturing facilities under construction in Missouri and Nebraska, aimed at doubling the brand's production.
“Consumer demand today is largely driven by a focus on protein content, nutrient density, clean labels and reduced processing,” said Brian Earnest, lead animal protein economist at CoBank. “Meat snacks check several of the boxes. We expect beef will continue to dominate the category, but with supplies constrained due to a contracting U.S. cattle herd, the opportunity for pork and poultry to offer value-oriented meat alternatives is rising.”
Clean Labels, Beef Constraints, and Shifting Demographics
Several recent product launches have emphasized ingredient simplicity in response to US Dietary Guidelines advising consumers to minimize highly processed foods. Jack Link's is positioning a three-ingredient line around minimal processing transparency, while Archer Meat Snacks grew sales 57% in 2025 partly through clean-label, culinary-inspired offerings.
Beef supply tightness from a contracting US cattle herd is opening space for pork and poultry alternatives. Ready-to-eat bacon, pork sticks, and turkey and chicken sticks are gaining traction as convenient, value-oriented options. The category has also broadened its consumer base: Chomps reports 70% of its buyers are now female, a significant shift from the traditionally male-skewed meat snack audience.
Outlook: Protein Demand as a Long-Term Growth Engine
CoBank frames meat snacks as well-positioned within the broader protein trend, noting that category growth is accelerating even as some adjacent food segments plateau.
