U.S. Beef Debuts in China’s Retail Sector

USMEF recently noted that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was in China to promote the return of U.S. beef. Following this media reception in Beijing, Perdue participated in a U.S. beef retail launch promotion at a City Super supermarket in Shanghai. Funded through support from the Nebraska Beef Council, the promotional event featured USDA Foreign Agricultural Service representatives, Nebraska Department Agriculture Director Greg Ibach, U.S. beef exporters and USMEF-China staff.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and chef Austin Hu prepare U.S. steaks at a City Super supermarket in Shanghai

Perdue assisted guest chef Austin Hu in preparing U.S. ribeye steaks for City Super customers as the U.S. delegation distributed samples and explained the unique qualities and attributes of U.S. beef. Other cuts available for sale during the promotion were ribeye hot pot slices, striploins and chuck eye roll slices.
 

(from left) Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Jerry Wiggs of Greater Omaha Packing Company prepare for the U.S. beef retail launch promotion in Shanghai

“I’m especially delighted to be here with you, with U.S. beef coming back to China,” Perdue said. “This is tremendous news for the American beef industry, the agriculture community, and the American economy in general. There’s no doubt in my mind that when the Chinese people taste our high-quality U.S. beef, they’ll want more of it.”

See excerpts from Perdue’s remarks, customer interviews and other news coverage of the City Super event from CGTN TV online.

“We still have a long way to go in developing large-scale sales and exports to China,” said Joel Haggard, USMEF senior vice president for the Asia Pacific. “But we are very encouraged by the initial response to U.S. beef. Although supplies remain quite limited, we are seeing more and more bricks-and-mortar retail outlets and e-commerce platforms adding U.S. beef items to their meat offerings.”

www.usmef.org