Over the past five years, the Beef and Pork Wholesaling industry has had a hard time selling premium meats, especially during the recession. Though downstream customers generally maintained the quantity of meat they purchased, they often opted to buy lower-quality products, and the lower margins realized on such sales hurt profit growth; margins remained virtually flat over the five-year period. Besides financial limitations, health concerns have also challenged the industry. Increasingly, health-conscious consumers have sought to reduce their fat intake and lower their risk of heart disease. “Because red meat options are considered unhealthy, regardless of quality, consumers have been shifting toward protein sources outside of this industry, such as poultry and seafood,” says IBISWorld industry analyst Josh McBee. …