Robert W. Holland University of Tennessee

Publish Date: June 3, 2006

The pork industry has gone through rapid change in the past few years. Since 1979 the breeding herd has declined 38%, while the pig crop has stayed about the same. Fewer breeding animals producing about the same number of pigs is largely due to the remaining producers increased efficiency. Today, special efforts have to be made to determine the customers wants and then develop a product (and package) that satisfies those wants. Customers in today's marketplace have special needs and wants. That is, they prefer a product that is specialized in some way or they are a specialized group with a well-defined demand. This situation may best be referred to as a niche market.