NAICS 445240 Quarterly Industry Report
Meat Retailers
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 445240Sector: 44Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 445240 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and Small Business Administration[4] to profile the specialty meat retail sector. Our research team analyzes butcher shop economics, custom cutting service models, and cold chain management requirements to provide accurate market intelligence for business valuation purposes. The report covers SBA size standards, related NAICS classifications, and the value-added product strategies that distinguish specialty meat retailers from supermarket meat departments. Fair Market Value updates this NAICS 445240 profile quarterly to reflect new Census releases and industry developments.
Industry Definition & Overview
Meat Retailers (NAICS 445240) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in retailing fresh, frozen, and cured meats, including beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and specialty game products. Butcher shops, meat markets, frozen meat provisioners, poultry dealers, and locker meat operations all fall within this classification. These specialty retailers differentiate from supermarket meat departments through custom cutting, special orders, higher-grade product sourcing, and direct customer consultation on preparation methods.
Butcher shops typically employ skilled meat cutters who break down primals and subprimals into retail cuts on premises, offering customization that prepackaged supermarket meat departments cannot match. Customers include individual consumers seeking premium cuts, restaurants purchasing wholesale quantities, caterers ordering event-sized portions, and ethnic markets stocking culturally specific preparations such as halal, kosher, or specialty sausage products. Product quality, cutting expertise, and customer relationships drive repeat business in a category where brand loyalty centers on the butcher rather than the brand.
The SBA[4] sets the size standard at $9 million in average annual receipts for this industry. Cold chain management governs daily operations, as fresh meat requires consistent refrigeration from receiving through display to customer handoff. Health department inspections, USDA labeling requirements, and food safety protocols create regulatory overhead that increases operating costs relative to nonperishable retail. Waste management from trim, bone, and fat byproducts adds disposal or rendering costs that affect gross margins. Some operators supplement retail sales with value-added products such as marinated meats, house-made sausages, and prepared entrees that command higher margins than raw cuts.
What's Included in This Industry
- Butcher shop operations with custom cutting services
- Retail meat market operations
- Frozen meat and locker meat provisioner operations
- Poultry dealer retail operations
- Retail sale of cured and smoked meat products
- Retail sale of specialty and game meats
- Halal and kosher meat retail operations
- House-made sausage and prepared meat retailing
- Retail sale of fresh and frozen seafood at meat markets
- Custom meat processing and packaging for retail customers
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Food and Beverage Retailers | 445 |
| Industry Group | Specialty Food Retailers | 4452 |
| NAICS Industry | Meat Retailers | 44524 |
| National Industry | Meat Retailers | 445240 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 445110 | Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) | Operates supermarkets retailing general food lines including meat departments, carrying broader product assortments beyond the meat focus of specialty butcher shops |
| 445230 | Fruit and Vegetable Retailers | Retails fresh fruits and vegetables through specialty stores, representing another perishable food specialty format operating alongside meat retailers in food districts |
| 445250 | Fish and Seafood Retailers | Retails fish, seafood, and related products through specialty stores, sharing cold chain management requirements and perishable inventory challenges with meat retailers |
| 445291 | Baked Goods Retailers | Retails baked goods through specialty bakery stores, representing another specialty food format that clusters with butcher shops in traditional food shopping districts |
| 445298 | All Other Specialty Food Retailers | Retails all other specialty food items through standalone stores, sharing specialty food customer demographics with meat market and butcher shop shoppers |
| 445131 | Convenience Retailers | Operates convenience retailers selling limited grocery lines, occasionally stocking packaged deli meats but lacking the fresh cutting capabilities of specialty meat retailers |
SBA Lending Summary
600
Total SBA Loans
$307.8M
Total Loan Volume
$513K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.87%
Average Interest Rate
5,960
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The SBA[4] classifies NAICS 445240 under meat retailers with a size standard of $9 million in average annual receipts. Businesses at or below this revenue threshold qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA loan programs. Meat retailers can access SBA 7(a) loans[7] for refrigeration equipment, display case purchases, and working capital for meat inventory. Firms purchasing butcher shop or meat market properties may qualify for 504 loans[8]. Equipment-intensive operations requiring commercial refrigeration, cutting equipment, and food safety infrastructure represent common capital expenditure needs for meat retailers.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Bank | 80 | $26.3M | $329K |
| 2 | Zions Bank, A Division of | 24 | $22.3M | $931K |
| 3 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 32 | $20.2M | $631K |
| 4 | SouthState Bank, National Association | 8 | $17.8M | $2.2M |
| 5 | Citizens Bank | 8 | $17.4M | $2.2M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 445240?
NAICS 445240 covers butcher shops, meat markets, frozen meat provisioners, poultry dealers, and locker meat operations retailing fresh, frozen, and cured meat products. Halal and kosher meat retailers and specialty game meat shops are also included. Source: U.S. Census Bureau[5]
How is NAICS 445240 structured?
Stores range from small neighborhood butcher shops with one or two meat cutters to larger meat markets with multiple display cases and walk-in coolers. Many serve both retail customers and wholesale accounts including restaurants and caterers. Custom cutting and specialty preparations drive customer loyalty.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 445240?
The SBA sets the size standard at $9 million in average annual receipts for meat retailers. Businesses at or below this revenue level qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA loan programs. Source: SBA Size Standards[4]
What NAICS codes are related to meat retailers?
Related retail codes include 445110 (supermarkets), 445230 (fruit and vegetable markets), 445250 (fish and seafood retailers), 445291 (baked goods stores), 445298 (other specialty food), and 445131 (convenience retailers). Source: Census NAICS[5]
What industries are related to meat retailing?
Key supplier industries include 311611 (animal slaughtering), 311612 (meat processing), and 424470 (meat wholesalers). Customer industries include 722511 (full-service restaurants) that purchase custom-cut meats. Waste processing industry 311613 (rendering) handles byproducts.
What activities are included in NAICS 445240?
Activities include retailing fresh, frozen, and cured meats; custom cutting and butchering services; sausage making; halal and kosher meat preparation; poultry dealing; locker meat provisioning; and prepared meat product retailing including marinated and seasoned items.
Can meat retailers get SBA loans?
Yes, small businesses under NAICS 445240 can access SBA 7(a) loans for refrigeration equipment, display cases, and working capital for meat inventory. Firms purchasing butcher shop properties may qualify for 504 loans. Cold chain infrastructure and food safety compliance represent significant capital needs. Source: SBA Loan Programs[9]
Where are meat retailers concentrated in the United States?
Butcher shops and meat markets concentrate in urban areas with diverse ethnic communities that value fresh-cut meats and specialty preparations. Cities with established Italian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European neighborhoods support clusters of independent meat retailers. Rural areas also maintain butcher operations connected to local livestock producers.
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. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]SBA sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [8]504 loans sba.gov
- [9]SBA Loan Programs sba.gov
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