NAICS 424470 Quarterly Industry Report
Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 424470Sector: Wholesale Trade (42)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 424470 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], Bureau of Labor Statistics[7], and Small Business Administration[5] to profile the meat and meat product wholesale distribution sector. Our research team analyzes supply chain dynamics, commodity pricing trends, and regulatory compliance requirements to provide accurate market intelligence for business valuation purposes. The report covers SBA size standards, related NAICS classifications, and the food safety environment shaping meat distribution. Fair Market Value updates this NAICS 424470 profile quarterly to reflect new Census releases and industry developments.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the meat and meat product merchant wholesalers industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 424470) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of meats and meat products, including fresh, frozen, cured, and processed items, as well as lard. These wholesalers serve as the critical distribution link between meat packers, processors, and the end-market channels of restaurants, grocery retailers, institutional food service operations, and specialty butcher shops. Product categories include beef, pork, poultry, lamb, veal, processed meats (sausages, hot dogs, deli meats), and rendered animal fats.
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) maintains continuous inspection authority over meat products, creating a regulatory environment that shapes every aspect of wholesale meat distribution. Wholesalers must operate under USDA-inspected conditions, maintain Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, and comply with cold chain temperature requirements from receiving dock through final delivery. Traceability systems enable lot-level tracking of products through the supply chain, a capability that became more important after food safety incidents prompted stricter recall protocols.
The SBA[5] sets the size standard at 150 employees for this industry. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[6], roughly 2,066 establishments operate in this classification, employing about 46,604 workers. The industry shows moderate concentration, with large national distributors handling commodity beef and pork while smaller regional firms specialize in premium, organic, or ethnic market products. Price volatility in livestock markets creates margin pressure that requires active procurement management and forward contracting strategies.
What's Included in This Industry
- Wholesale distribution of fresh beef, pork, and veal
- Distribution of fresh and frozen poultry products
- Wholesale of processed meats including sausages and deli items
- Distribution of cured meats such as ham, bacon, and jerky
- Wholesale of lamb and specialty game meats
- Distribution of lard and rendered animal fats
- Wholesale of portion-controlled meat cuts for food service
- Distribution of organic and natural meat products
- Wholesale of boxed beef and primal meat cuts
- Distribution of value-added and marinated meat products
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Wholesale Trade | 42 |
| Subsector | Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 424 |
| Industry Group | Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers | 4244 |
| NAICS Industry | Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers | 42447 |
| National Industry | Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers | 424470 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 424410 | General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers | Distributes general line groceries including some packaged meat products, operating broader food distribution networks that include meat alongside other categories |
| 424420 | Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers | Handles packaged frozen food wholesale distribution including frozen meat items that overlap with frozen products distributed under this meat-specific code |
| 424440 | Poultry and Poultry Product Merchant Wholesalers | Distributes poultry and poultry products through wholesale channels, with significant product overlap in fresh and frozen chicken and turkey distribution |
| 424460 | Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers | Handles fish and seafood wholesale distribution through similar cold chain infrastructure, often serving the same restaurant and retail customers |
| 424480 | Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers | Distributes fresh fruits and vegetables through wholesale channels, sharing perishable distribution logistics and food service customer bases |
| 424490 | Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers | Covers other grocery and related products wholesale distribution, with overlap in specialty and ethnic market meat products sold alongside other foods |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 15.2% | 334 |
| 2 | New York | 14.6% | 321 |
| 3 | Texas | 8.0% | 176 |
| 4 | Illinois | 6.3% | 139 |
| 5 | Florida | 5.8% | 126 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 5.6% | 123 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 3.3% | 72 |
| 8 | Colorado | 2.6% | 58 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 2.6% | 58 |
| 10 | Michigan | 2.5% | 56 |
% Of Establishments
0%
15%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
328
Total SBA Loans
$280.2M
Total Loan Volume
$854K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.70%
Average Interest Rate
2,472
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[5] classifies NAICS 424470 under nondurable goods merchant wholesale trade with a size standard of 150 employees. Businesses at or below this threshold qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA loan programs. Meat and meat product wholesalers can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for refrigerated equipment, fleet expansion, and working capital to manage livestock price volatility. Firms purchasing cold storage or distribution center facilities may qualify for 504 loans[9]. USDA compliance infrastructure and HACCP program implementation represent common financing needs for businesses in this classification.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 2 | Libertyville Bank & Trust Company, National Association | 16 | $30.6M | $1.9M |
| 3 | Mountain America FCU | 16 | $27.3M | $1.7M |
| 4 | GBC International Bank | 8 | $24.0M | $3.0M |
| 4 | Locality Bank | 16 | $24.0M | $1.5M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 424470?
NAICS 424470 covers merchant wholesalers that purchase and resell meats and meat products including fresh, frozen, cured, and processed items plus lard. These businesses take ownership title and distribute to restaurants, grocery retailers, institutional food service, and specialty meat shops. Source: U.S. Census Bureau[6]
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 424470?
The SBA sets the size standard at 150 employees for meat and meat product merchant wholesalers. Businesses at or below this employee count qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA financing programs. Source: SBA Size Standards[5]
How many meat wholesale businesses operate in the United States?
Census data shows roughly 2,066 establishments operating under NAICS 424470, employing about 46,604 workers. The industry includes both large national distributors handling commodity products and smaller regional firms specializing in premium or ethnic market meats. Source: U.S. Census Bureau[6]
What regulations govern meat wholesale distribution?
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) maintains continuous inspection authority over meat products. Wholesalers must operate under USDA-inspected conditions, maintain HACCP food safety plans, comply with cold chain temperature requirements, and support lot-level product traceability for recall readiness.
What NAICS codes are related to meat wholesalers?
Related wholesale codes include 424410 (general line groceries), 424420 (packaged frozen foods), 424440 (poultry products), 424460 (fish and seafood), and 424490 (other grocery products). Supply-side codes include 311611 (animal slaughtering) and 311612 (meat processing). Source: Census NAICS[6]
Can meat and meat product wholesalers get SBA loans?
Yes, small businesses under NAICS 424470 can access SBA 7(a) loans for refrigerated equipment and working capital, 504 loans for cold storage facility purchases, and microloans for smaller needs. USDA compliance infrastructure represents a common financing purpose. Source: SBA Loan Programs[10]
How does livestock price volatility affect meat wholesalers?
Livestock commodity prices fluctuate based on feed costs, herd cycles, trade policy, and disease outbreaks. Meat wholesalers manage this volatility through forward contracting, inventory rotation strategies, and pricing agreements with customers that allow periodic adjustments tied to market benchmarks.
What is the difference between meat wholesalers and meat processors?
NAICS 424470 covers wholesale distribution of meat products, while codes like 311611 and 311612 cover slaughtering and processing. Wholesalers purchase finished or semi-finished products for resale and distribution, while processors transform live animals or carcasses into retail-ready cuts.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]SBA sba.gov
- [6]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [7]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loans sba.gov
- [10]SBA Loan Programs sba.gov
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