Analysis
NAICS 311612 is the 2022 national industry for meat processed from carcasses, part of 31161 (Animal Slaughtering and Processing). Census lists 34 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 22% and employment rose 29%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
County Business Patterns counts 1,703 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 146,308 people at an average annual payroll of $55,662 per employee (26th percentile of national industries). 26% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 4 codes at this level within Animal Slaughtering and Processing, with 45.8% of them.
Census lists 7 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 311611, 311615, 311613 and 311422. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include bacon, slab and sliced, made from purchased carcasses, beef stew made from purchased carcasses, beef, primal and sub-primal cuts, made from purchased… and bologna made from purchased carcasses, among 34 in all.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in processing or preserving meat and meat byproducts (except poultry and small game) from purchased meats. This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in assembly cutting and packing of meats (i.e., boxed meats) from purchased meats.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Slaughtering animals (except poultry and small game) | 311611 Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
| Slaughtering poultry and small game | 311615 Poultry Processing |
| Rendering lard and other animal fats and oils, bones, and meat scraps | 311613 Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
| Manufacturing canned meats for baby food | 311422 Specialty Canning |
| Manufacturing meat-based animal feeds from purchased carcasses | 31111 Animal Food Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing canned and frozen specialty foods containing meat, such as nationality foods (e.g., enchiladas, egg rolls, pizza) and frozen dinners | 3114 Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing |
| Cutting purchased meat carcasses and wholesaling meat cuts (except boxed meat) | 424470 Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (34)
- Bacon, slab and sliced, made from purchased carcasses
- Beef stew made from purchased carcasses
- Beef, primal and sub-primal cuts, made from purchased carcasses
- Bologna made from purchased carcasses
- Boxed beef made from purchased carcasses
- Boxed meat produced from purchased carcasses
- Collagen sausage casings made from purchased hides
- Cooked meats made from purchased carcasses
- Corned meats made from purchases carcasses
- Cured meats (e.g., brined, dried, and salted) made from purchased carcasses
- Dried meats made from purchased carcasses
- Frozen meat pies (i.e., tourtiere) made from purchased carcasses
- Hams, canned, made from purchased carcasses
- Hams, preserved (except poultry), made from purchased carcasses
- Hot dogs (except poultry) made from purchased carcasses
- Lamb, primal and sub-primal cuts, made from purchased carcasses
- Luncheon meat (except poultry) made from purchased carcasses
- Meat canning (except baby food, pet food, poultry), made from purchased carcasses
- Meat extracts made from purchased carcasses
- Meat products canning (except baby food, pet food, poultry) made from purchased carcasses
- Meats (except poultry), cured or smoked, made from purchased carcasses
- Meats, fresh or chilled (except poultry and small game), frozen, made from purchased carcasses
- Pastrami made from purchased carcasses
- Pig's feet, cooked and pickled, made from purchased carcasses
- Pork, primal and sub-primal cuts, made from purchased carcasses
- Potted meats made from purchased carcasses
- Processed meats manufacturing
- Salted meats made from purchased carcasses
- Sandwich spreads, meat, made from purchased carcasses
- Sausage and similar cased products made from purchased carcasses
- Sausage casings, collagen, made from purchased hides
- Smoked meats made from purchased carcasses
- Variety meats, edible organs, made from purchased meats
- Veal, primal and sub-primal cuts, made from purchased carcasses