CATEGORY PERFORMANCE: REFRIGERATED MEAT & POULTRY PRODUCTS

Dollar Sales $793,543,200 % Change From Last Year 18.8

ding beef, pork, veal, chicken and turkey products, are hot sellers. Sales of private-label and branded, fixed-weight products continued to grow at a healthy pace, fueled in part by the high-protein, low-carb diet trend, higher retail prices and a host of new products. For the 52 weeks that ended June 13, meat and poultry sales at supermarkets only jumped 18.8%, to $793.5 million.

Within the category, sales of refrigerated uncooked meats represented the lion's share of business, growing 18.97%, to $744.8 million.

Popular among ethnic consumers, specialty refrigerated pork products, including hocks and feet, went up 16.2%, to $48.7 million. The increases came on the heels of two previous calendar years of double-digit growth. For the year ended Dec. 28, 2003, sales at supermarkets shot up 13.01%, to $721 million. Sales growth surpassed 21%, reaching $638 million, for the year that ended Dec. 29, 2002.

Subcategories: 52-week sales; % change

RFG UNCOOKED MEATS: $744,803,100; 18.97

RFG PORK PRODUCT HOCKS/FEET: $48,740,090; 16.23

Latest 52 weeks ended June 13, 2004.

Dollar Sales Latest 52 Weeks Ended June 13, 2004; % Change; Dollar Sales Calendar Year Ended Dec. 28, 2003; % Change; Dollar Sales Calendar Year Ended Dec. 29, 2002; % Change

Supermarkets: $793,543,200; 18.80

Supermarkets: $721,056,500; 13.01

Supermarkets $638,055,400; 21.05