Increase demand for registered Angus cattle through a specification-based branded beef program to identify consistent, high quality beef with superior taste.
Presidents Message
This year has brought both challenges and triumphs for the Certified Angus Beef® brand and community. Record-high prices, global tariff disruptions and an uncertain marketplace tested us, yet our brand family responded with focus, commitment and resilience. For the fourth consecutive year, Certified Angus Beef achieved near-record sales, a remarkable reflection of global demand and our shared commitment to quality. Every segment of our brand family helped prove once again: if it’s not CERTIFIED, it’s not the best.
Looking ahead, demand for the Certified Angus Beef® brand has never been stronger and meeting it will take all of us working together from pasture to plate. Thank you for your partnership, your resilience and your belief in something bigger than individual wins. You are the reason this brand stands strong.
Listen to How We Stand Strong.
A Quick Look From the Year
A Global Appetite for Prime
High quality beef is no longer the exception; it’s the expectation. Chefs demand it. Shoppers seek it. Certified Angus Beef® Prime delivers. Once reserved for fine dining, it now appears on dinner tables at home and on menus around the world. Certified Angus Beef® partners rise to meet that demand despite tight supply and rising costs.
Beef is not just having a moment – it’s building momentum,” says Anne-Marie Roerick of 210 Analytics. “Consumers are proving that when they spend, they spend on quality.”
The momentum drives a record 55.4 million pounds of Certified Angus Beef® Prime sold globally this year.
Brand President, John Stika notes the ripple effect through the supply chain. “Our partners are sending a very loud signal back to cattle country,” he said, recognizing the economic incentive for continued quality.
Raising beef at this level requires intentionality, and farming and ranching families delivered. Despite high operating costs and limited cattle numbers, more than 783,000 carcasses qualified for Certified Angus Beef® Prime.
Consumers drive everything that we as producers need to focus on,” says Joanie Grimes of Maplecrest Farms. “We want to raise cattle in a way that can produce a Prime steak to put on the table.”
Reaching the Plate
From packers and distributors to retailers and restaurants, every segment of the brand works with precision to meet the highest standards ensuring Certified Angus Beef® Prime reaches shoppers and diners when they want it most. Record-breaking retail performance, strong restaurant demand and rapid international growth expand Prime’s global influence.
For Generations to Come
Preserving the ranching legacy starts with caring for cattle, the land and people.
Caring for Cattle
We consider Beef Quality Assurance certification our baseline for cattle care. This helps ensure cattle are handled in a safe, humane and environmentally sustainable way.
Improving the Environment
We’re leaving the land better than we found it by investing in the working grasslands where cattle are raised and protecting these vital ecosystems.
Putting People First
The best-tasting beef made possible by the best people. We’re helping support the communities where beef is raised and enjoyed.
An Unforgiving Land
What makes a ranch sustainable? To Jon Means, it’s simple: the same family, ranching on the same land, for the last 140 years. The Means family never could have done that without sustainability. Responsible usage of water, caring for the land and its wildlife, and destocking their herd while the land recovers from drought in South Texas.
With Jon and Jackie at the helm, Means Ranch Company has done more than survived—it has thrived. It’s a picture of ranching, romanticized. Until you live it. On the Means Ranch, beauty is a thin veil over a land that is barren and desolate. Unforgiving.
For that, they earned the 2025 Certified Angus Beef Sustainability Award.
If you take care of your cows and you take care of your land, they will take care of you.”
Jackie Means, Means Ranch Company
Sustainability Programs in Action
Respect isn’t an afterthought for our farm and ranch families—it’s everything. In partnership with Sysco, Certified Angus Beef launched the Raised with Respect™ campaign in 2023 to elevate Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training, a nationally recognized program that helps ensure cattle are cared for with the highest standards.
Together, we’re investing in the future of cattle care, one generation and one certification at a time.
3,000+ BQA Certifications
9 in-person events + online certifications
We believe the best beef starts with healthy land. That’s why Certified Angus Beef and Noble Research Institute created a free course to help farmers and ranchers strengthen their land management practices. By focusing on healthier soil and sustainable practices, they can build stronger, more resilient ranches that bring the best beef to your table.
Over 900 registered
Based on 6 soil health principles
Cattle and ducks may seem like an unlikely combination, but both need common resources to thrive: grass and water. The Working Grasslands Conservation Initiative is a collaboration between Certified Angus Beef and Ducks Unlimited to preserve the vital ecosystems of the Northern Great Plains through voluntary conservation programs for ranchers.
Protect, restore and enhance over 730,193 acres
Aided 1,040 farm and ranch families
Our Ranchers
These families earned awards from the brand in 2025 for their unwavering commitment to excellence.
We’re always thinking about the end users and how little decisions that we make here impact their eating experience.”
Lindsey Grimes Hall, Maplecrest Farms
To go out every day and work for your family, I can’t imagine doing it any other way.”
Jordan Willis, Willis Ranch
This is the perfect place for a cow to live. The land isn’t meant for crops. It’s meant for cattle. And Angus work here.”
Austin Cross, Cross Cattle Company
Investing in Our Beef Community
Colvin Scholarship Fund
The Colvin Scholarship Fund recognizes and supports the next generation of beef leaders in three categories: production agriculture, undergraduate and graduate. This year, 27 students were awarded a combined $100,000 to continue their pursuit of innovation, growth and leadership in the beef industry.
Culinary Externships
Engaging with leading culinary schools like the Culinary Institute of America, this 15-week paid externship immerses aspiring chefs in the Certified Angus Beef experience. Interns gain hands-on skills while exploring the journey of beef from farm to table.
Rural Relief Fund
We strive to support the communities where our beef is raised and enjoyed. The Certified Angus Beef Rural Relief Fund helps farm and ranch families in times of natural disaster, providing immediate aid to protect the livelihoods of those dedicated to raising the best. Brand partners like Sysco Central Plains Specialist teams contributed $2,000 this year.
What Fire Can’t Take
It started like any other Tuesday morning at Gelson’s Pacific Palisades store. Employees were stocking shelves, chatting with regulars and preparing for the day. Then the wildfire hit. The store had to evacuate immediately. For many, that store was more than a job, but a home.
Within a week, Gelson’s was back in action, providing meals to first responders and neighbors in the community. Certified Angus Beef® tri-tip sandwiches and Whalburgers brough comfort, connection and a sense of home to the hardest-hit areas.
The minute we arrived with those burgers, we became a hit. Seeing their smiles and hearing their thank yous—I knew this was what it was all about.”
Fernando Moreno
Gelsons, Director of Meat and Seafood
Recognized for Leadership
Gelsons was named the 2025 Certified Angus Beef Retail Line Extension Marketer of the Year. They were recognized for their commitment to excellence through monthly Certified Angus Beef® Prime sales events, in-store storytelling, community outreach and their creative approach to sharing the brand.
Elite Partners, Exceptional Plates
Recognizing the best in steak, barbecue and beyond.
2025 Chef of the Year
Chef Paul Smith is redefining Appalachian cuisine in Charleston, West Virginia. Known for transforming underutilized Certified Angus Beef® cuts into signature dishes with local ingredients and elevated techniques, his kitchen serves as a place of healing and connection. He reflects on his own journey from hardship to purpose and inspiring others to do the same.
“The kitchen saved my life.”
Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge
BBQ Establishment of the Year
Wrights Barbecue, Johnson, Arkansas
Craft. Fire. Flavor.
Steakhouse of the Year
Umbria Steakhouse, Boston, Massachusetts
Excellence, served.
Meeting Consumers Where They Are
Consumers make hundreds or choices every day. Certified Angus Beef makes choosing the best beef easy. This year, the brand supported retail partners by providing consumers with more high quality beef choices they feel good about, fit in their budget and are still packed with flavor. Beyond classic steaks hitting the grill, the brand helped retailers feature ground beef and time-saving value-added products that kept consumers inspired and coming back to their meat case.
Turning Up the Heat
Summer grilling campaigns focused on targeted products with fresh, new creatives to reach more consumers digitally on behalf of retail partners, keeping beef in front of shoppers despite record prices.
Looking for Local
More shoppers are looking for local. Retailers like Giant Eagle are, too. Through partnerships with family ranchers, retailers can now highlight the stories behind the best beef they sell. Programs like Certified Angus Beef® Ranch to TableTM make that possible.
The Kuntz family of Flying K Rancher in Findlay, Ohio is one of several bringing that local connection to life. Each package proudly bears the Certified Angus Beef® logo.
Premium Beef. Global Flavor. Local Streets.
Certified Angus Beef continues to grow its footprint globally through strategic retail and restaurant partnerships.
Sold in 55 countries around the world, Certified Angus Beef® products are meeting global consumers in familiar stores, favorite restaurants and traditional flavors. Now fans can connect with the brand’s community on a more personalized basis than ever before. New social media channels were added in South Korea and Hong Kong. Brand partners elevated the brand and created experiences that keep customers coming back.
The Certified Angus Beef® brand made its mark with the launch of a fully branded “Ding Ding” tram, one of the city’s most recognizable icons. Seen by millions through high-traffic streets for four weeks, the double-decker tram strengthened visibility for the brand and its partners in Asia. The Ding Ding stands as a striking symbol of the brand’s growing global presence and connection across cultures.
In South Korea
Leading up to Korean Thanksgiving in September, the brand hosted a digital ad campaign, CAB® Festa, supporting 13 partners in the country ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. This included Coupang, the number one e-commerce platform in South Korea, which now leads with the Certified Angus Beef® brand, giving Korean consumers a taste for the best beef.
Setting Records
As international markets navigate trade dynamics, introduce premium beef to emerging markets and maintain consistent quality across borders, the brand’s community hit notable records. Certified Angus Beef® Prime sales climbed 20.6% internationally. Seven Latin American countries set record sales in 2025, too.
Elevating Flavors Together
The Certified Angus Beef community united in strength, made headlines and inspired audiences worldwide.
Cayman Cookout
The best beef is met with world-class chefs in the Cayman Islands for an unforgettable culinary experience.
Ladies Professional Golf Association
Brand Chefs Michael Ollier and Gavin Pinto brought flavor to the greens during the LPGA event alongside Meijer in Grand Rapids, Michigan creating an elevated experience for players and fans alike.
Truffle Experts. Iconic Beef.
Certified Angus Beef joins Sabatino in a partnership rooted in tradition, driven by flavor and crafted for chefs.
Mauro Provisions x United Airlines
The Certified Angus Beef® Honey GTM Cheeseburger was available from December 2024 to March 2025.
“The best name in beef, meets the best name in air travel, meets the king of sandwiches. It was a match made in heaven or at least a match made at 35,000 feet!”
Jeff Mauro, Mauro Provisions
Looking Ahead
The next chapter is just beginning.
Some stories are still unfolding... There’s more to see, more to taste and more ways Certified Angus Beef ® will continue to inspire. Keep watching—what comes next promises to elevate the brand, celebrate resilience and create experiences worth following.
Bryan hits iconic burger spots, takes one unforgettable bite, then comes back to The Culinary Center in Wooster, Ohio where Chef Gavin recreates it… from Bryan’s memory. Will they capture the flavor perfectly?
Be(ef) More
Brand Chef Ashley Breneman travels the world to connect with passionate people, sharing human-to-human stories over great steak. From drummers to professionals dedicated to their craft, each story celebrates dedication, flavor and connection.
Brand Update 2025
The Best in Football Deserve the Best Beef
The official sponsor of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Gold Jacket Dinner, the brand honored the year’s inductees and their families in Canton, Ohio. Certified Angus Beef was also the presenting sponsor of the Grand Parade, where over 200,000 football fans saw the brand on Cleveland Avenue.
Flavor the Fits
Consumers also want options that align with their lifestyle. Certified Angus Beef® Grass-Fed, available at select retailers like Meijer and Festival Foods, gives shoppers the very best tasting grass-fed beef they expect consistently.