Los Angeles Times: Beef Prices Hit All-Time High in U.S.

David Pierson and Tiffany Hsu of the Los Angeles Times report today on the biggest emerging news in the food industry – that of skyrocketing beef prices. Norm Langer of Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant is quoted in the article regarding the impact on menu prices from the rising cost of pastrami and corned beef, staples in the deli business.

The swelling prices are roiling the beef supply chain from rancher to restaurant.

Norm Langer managed to go two years without raising prices at his famed Westlake delicatessen.

But last week, he reluctantly began printing new menus showing a 50-cent increase for sandwiches at his 67-year-old restaurant.

Langer accepts it’s one of the perils of business when your bread and butter happens to be corned beef and pastrami. But he fears he may have to raise prices again, driving away customers.

“No beef, no delicatessen. That’s the bottom line,” Langer said after a typically frenetic lunch service. “Jewish delis aren’t vegetarian, they’re based on corned beef and pastrami. Things are beyond my control. With the price increase, I hope my customers are tolerant.”

Langer said beef prices are the main reason his wholesale food costs have risen 45% in the last two years — much of it passed from his longtime supplier, R.C. Provision Inc.

Read the complete article here. Our thanks to David Pierson and Tiffany Hsu for a well-reported and comprehensive article.