United States

Department of 

Agriculture

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Livestock,

Poultry and

Seed Program

Agricultural

Analytics

Division

Top 50 Ranking of Chicken Cuts 

Frequency of Supermarket 

Advertised Sales in 2017
2017 Top 50 Ranking of Chicken Cuts (January 2018)

USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service, Agricultural Analytics Division 2

Top 50 Ranking of Chicken Cuts by Frequency of Supermarket Advertised Sales

This annual report provides a ranking of the top 501 chicken cuts as featured by grocery retailers in their store 

circulars ranked by the most frequently advertised to the least. Information was collected from a weekly survey of 

29,200 supermarket ads in all 50 United States during the year. 

Information included on the report:

 Current year ranking of the chicken cuts reported on the USDA Weekly Retail Chicken Feature Activity

report based on the frequency that they were featured during the year. 

 Comparison with the ranking from the prior year along with the ranking change. 

 The frequency each cut was featured on a national basis during the year as a percentage of all features for 

reported chicken cuts. 

 The annual national weighted average ad price for each cut.

 The annual regional weighted average ad price for each cut.

 A comparison, by region, of the frequency each cut was featured during the year.

U.S. Regional Definitions:

Northeast ............CT,DC,DE,MA,MD,ME,NH,NJ,NY,PA,RI,VT

Southeast............AL,FL,GA,KY,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV

Midwest...............IA,IL,IN,MI,MN,ND,NE,OH,SD,WI

South Central......AR,AZ,CO,KS,LA,MO,NM,OK,TX,UT

Southwest...........CA, HI, NV

Northwest............AK,ID,MT,OR,WA,WY

Notes:

1 – includes only the top 50 of the 61 chicken cuts reported on the Weekly Retail Chicken Feature Activity report.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the 

USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited 

from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual 

orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political 

beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all 

bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
2017 Top 50 Ranking of Chicken Cuts by Frequency of Supermarket Advertised Sales 1/

Based on a ranking of all 61 items reported on the USDA Weekly Retail Chicken Feature Activity report. 

2017 2016 NE SE MW SC SW NW

1 1 Bnls/Sknls Breasts - value pack 10.31% 19.1% 13.4% 14.8% 17.9% 18.5% 16.3%

2.18 2.24 2.16 2.05 2.03 3.02 2.47

2 2 Drumsticks - value pack 6.71% 24.7% 11.7% 14.9% 17.3% 18.1% 13.3%

1.01 1.04 0.97 0.98 0.95 1.28 1.24

3 3 Thighs - value pack 6.04% 25.5% 11.9% 14.7% 14.9% 18.3% 14.7%

1.06 1.07 1.01 1.04 1.05 1.28 1.24

4 7 ABF Bnls/Sknls Breasts 5.32% 19.2% 10.8% 12.8% 14.6% 20.3% 22.4%

4.83 4.97 4.74 4.38 4.66 5.47 5.23

5 4 Fried Chicken 8-Piece Mixed 4.81% 17.2% 22.6% 8.1% 14.8% 23.2% 14.1%

6.55 6.53 6.28 7.47 6.77 7.50 7.26

6 6 Whole Bagged Fryer 3.80% 18.7% 14.1% 13.6% 18.6% 20.8% 14.3%

1.11 1.24 1.06 1.12 1.04 1.54 1.20

7 13 Bnls/Sknls Thighs - value pack 3.79% 15.5% 19.2% 6.7% 17.0% 18.7% 22.9%

2.22 2.23 2.22 2.14 1.96 2.72 2.37

8 8 Whole Rotisserie, < 2 lbs 3.55% 20.3% 16.4% 8.4% 14.9% 26.9% 13.1%

5.81 5.64 5.52 6.14 6.06 6.43 6.73

9 16 Organic Bnls/Sknls Breasts 3.01% 19.7% 4.4% 9.3% 14.7% 22.8% 29.1%

7.11 7.57 6.74 6.75 7.16 7.45 6.88

10 5 Bnls/Sknls Breasts - regular pack 2.79% 25.2% 6.0% 16.4% 6.3% 17.4% 28.7%

2.95 3.03 2.94 2.84 2.79 3.21 2.94

11 10 Whole Wings 2.70% 33.9% 23.9% 15.4% 14.3% 6.5% 6.0%

2.62 2.68 2.64 2.43 2.47 2.57 2.50

12 9 IQF Bnls/Sknls Breast 2.60% 7.7% 9.4% 16.9% 20.3% 22.3% 23.4%

2.46 2.60 2.22 2.23 2.33 2.58 2.45

13 11 Prepared Breast Tenders 2.24% 18.5% 8.5% 7.1% 12.1% 30.4% 23.4%

5.95 6.24 5.65 5.66 5.82 6.03 6.22

14 15 Leg Quarters - bagged 2.21% 25.2% 18.7% 8.9% 27.4% 7.5% 12.3%

0.61 0.58 0.75 0.57 0.53 0.67 0.62

15 17 Baked Chicken 8-Piece Mixed 2.13% 6.9% 12.3% 6.5% 18.3% 39.1% 16.9%

6.57 6.48 6.84 7.47 6.45 6.45 6.86

16 14 Split, bone-in Breast - value pack 2.11% 22.2% 12.4% 12.3% 23.3% 20.3% 9.5%

1.30 1.49 1.31 1.29 1.29 1.09 1.27

17 12 Prepared Bone-in Wings 1.98% 11.9% 9.4% 9.9% 12.4% 33.0% 23.5%

5.70 5.89 5.65 5.44 5.96 5.57 5.64

18 25 ABF Drumsticks 1.87% 38.6% 12.6% 11.9% 7.9% 12.5% 16.6%

1.86 1.88 1.90 1.66 1.65 2.15 1.83

19 23 Leg Quarters - tray packed 1.84% 23.9% 12.7% 5.7% 10.1% 28.5% 19.0%

0.98 0.90 0.98 0.93 1.00 1.21 1.11

20 18 Whole Rotisserie 2.1-3.0 1.74% 5.7% 18.5% 8.4% 11.6% 14.4% 41.5%

7.19 7.47 6.97 6.99 6.89 7.75 8.03

21 30 Whole Bagged Roaster 1.72% 57.9% 14.5% 13.8% 8.3% 3.1% 2.4%

1.20 1.20 1.11 1.23 1.31 1.22 1.03

22 20 ABF Whole Bagged Fryer 1.67% 29.6% 10.3% 8.7% 8.2% 8.7% 34.5%

1.93 1.91 2.04 1.93 1.88 1.85 1.93

23 32 Thin Sliced Breasts 1.49% 56.0% 11.0% 8.8% 9.0% 13.5% 1.7%

3.71 3.81 3.51 3.55 3.06 2.95 3.82

24 27 ABF Thighs 1.49% 18.5% 5.2% 6.6% 7.3% 5.7% 56.7%

1.93 1.91 1.85 1.74 1.78 2.40 1.92

25 31 ABF Breast Tenders 1.48% 30.5% 7.1% 12.7% 12.7% 20.4% 16.7%

4.85 4.85 4.47 4.60 4.31 5.90 5.43

1/: based on a weekly survey of 29,200 supermarket ads in all 50 United States. changed higher

2/: average annual frequency percentage. changed lower

3/: adjusted to a "per 100 store" basis to account for different size regional samples. unchanged

4/: the percentage of "no price" promotions (e.g., buy 1, get 1 free, 40% off all poultry, etc.) ABF = antibiotic-free

USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division - (202) 690-3145 Page 1 of 2

Ranking Item Avg Nat'l Frequency 2/ Regional Frequency 3/ and Average Feature Price

and Avg Feature price
2017 Top 50 Ranking of Chicken Cuts by Frequency of Supermarket Advertised Sales 1/

Based on a ranking of all 61 items reported on the USDA Weekly Retail Chicken Feature Activity report. 

2017 2016 NE SE MW SC SW NW

26 21 Prepared Boneless Wings 1.42% 11.5% 12.6% 10.4% 15.5% 29.7% 20.3%

5.64 5.96 5.43 5.32 5.89 5.64 5.60

27 22 IQF Breast Tenders 1.39% 9.6% 11.5% 16.1% 22.7% 18.8% 21.4%

2.59 2.81 2.27 2.46 2.41 2.84 2.56

28 19 Bnls/Sknls Thighs - regular pack 1.25% 30.0% 6.5% 6.5% 4.2% 7.2% 45.6%

2.58 2.60 2.49 2.51 2.25 2.88 2.49

29 29 Drumsticks - regular pack 1.17% 29.7% 8.6% 19.9% 10.5% 9.7% 21.7%

1.21 1.28 1.24 1.12 1.13 1.07 1.25

30 24 Breast Tenders - regular pack 1.13% 55.8% 10.5% 16.7% 9.0% 4.0% 4.0%

3.41 3.59 3.07 3.28 2.77 2.86 3.07

31 36 IQF Whole Wings 1.08% 47.2% 12.2% 11.7% 9.9% 8.8% 10.1%

2.29 2.23 2.22 2.31 2.25 2.47 2.80

32 34 Split, bone-in Breast - regular pack 1.05% 23.7% 31.8% 17.6% 13.4% 6.5% 7.1%

1.67 1.78 1.63 1.71 1.41 1.54 1.63

33 35 ABF Bnls/Sknls Thighs 1.02% 20.5% 11.8% 8.6% 5.2% 23.8% 30.0%

3.77 3.54 3.45 3.56 3.60 4.36 4.43

34 33 Fried/Baked Chicken, Bulk-Pack/piece 0.99% 9.1% 14.6% 19.7% 15.7% 25.4% 15.5%

0.82 0.84 0.79 0.84 0.73 0.82 0.84

35 28 Thighs - regular pack 0.94% 31.9% 7.7% 15.3% 11.7% 9.6% 23.7%

1.28 1.32 1.22 1.31 1.28 1.20 1.27

36 40 Organic Whole Bagged Fryer 0.93% 26.4% 6.7% 3.2% 9.9% 16.7% 37.1%

3.02 3.24 2.55 3.25 3.19 2.88 2.82

37 26 IQF Party Wings 0.92% 35.2% 10.7% 13.7% 14.0% 15.7% 10.7%

2.48 2.40 2.28 2.43 2.34 2.70 2.72

38 38 Breast Tender - value pack 0.91% 37.2% 11.8% 11.4% 22.6% 8.6% 8.5%

2.78 2.83 2.66 2.85 2.54 2.50 2.78

39 41 Bnls/Sknls Breasts - Marinated 0.91% 24.6% 23.9% 16.6% 17.7% 6.7% 10.4%

4.01 4.30 3.26 3.67 3.33 3.32 4.48

40 37 Fried Chicken 8-piece Dark 0.87% 8.8% 6.3% 2.2% 1.6% 23.0% 58.2%

5.49 4.84 5.43 5.93 5.65 5.57 5.63

41 39 Cornish Hen 0.72% 26.8% 13.0% 10.4% 14.8% 21.0% 14.0%

2.57 2.67 2.56 2.87 2.56 2.44 2.65

42 44 Organic Drumsticks 0.60% 62.2% 3.4% 4.5% 10.8% 10.7% 8.5%

2.76 2.71 2.66 2.74 2.92 3.17 2.92

43 46 ABF Split, bone-in Breasts 0.52% 38.0% 6.3% 11.5% 6.3% 3.0% 35.0%

2.59 2.70 2.19 2.36 2.27 2.88 3.12

44 43 Organic Bnls/Sknls Thighs 0.51% 28.1% 12.7% 2.1% 7.7% 19.8% 29.7%

5.97 5.90 5.71 5.50 5.95 6.72 5.68

45 42 Organic Breast Tenders 0.50% 26.4% 17.5% 3.3% 19.8% 24.7% 8.2%

7.92 8.91 8.40 6.37 7.63 7.66 7.58

46 49 Fried/Baked Chicken, 12-piece 0.27% 8.4% 8.1% 20.8% 18.1% 39.7% 4.9%

10.59 9.13 11.40 11.33 10.87 10.47 9.59

47 45 Legs 0.27% 55.1% 3.3% 6.3% 3.6% 25.7% 6.0%

1.11 0.91 1.07 0.94 0.99 1.48 1.01

48 52 Rotisserie Leg Quarter 0.22% 50.4% 1.5% 1.6% 8.8% 35.3% 2.5%

2.96 2.60 2.59 2.14 3.07 5.63 5.19

49 48 ABF Whole Wings 0.22% 13.3% 10.7% 5.7% 4.4% 6.3% 59.6%

3.21 3.22 2.85 3.03 2.99 2.70 3.40

50 47 Cut-up Fryer 0.20% 38.6% 7.4% 17.7% 8.4% 6.9% 21.0%

1.51 1.51 1.41 1.56 1.57 1.21 1.69

1/: based on a weekly survey of 29,100 supermarket ads in all 50 United States. changed higher

2/: average annual frequency percentage. changed lower

3/: adjusted to a "per 100 store" basis to account for different size regional samples. unchanged

4/: the percentage of "no price" promotions (e.g., buy 1, get 1 free, 40% off all poultry, etc.) ABF = antibiotic-free

USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division - (202) 690-3145 Page 2 of 2

Ranking Item Avg Nat'l Frequency 2/ Regional Frequency 3/ and Average Feature Price

and Avg Feature price
-1.50% -1.00% -0.50% 0.00% 0.50% 1.00% 1.50% 2.00%

Bnls/Sknls Breasts - regular pack

IQF Bnls/Sknls Breast

Prepared Bone-in Wings

Whole Bagged Fryer

Prepared Breast Tenders

Whole Wings

Split, bone-in Breast - value pack

IQF Party Wings

Bnls/Sknls Thighs - regular pack

Breast Tenders - regular pack

Whole Rotisserie 2.1-3.0

Thighs - regular pack

Fried Chicken 8-Piece Mixed

Leg Quarters - bagged

Whole Rotisserie, < 2 lbs

Rotisserie Breast

Cut-up Fryer

Prepared Boneless Wings

IQF Breast Tenders

ABF Whole Wings

Legs

Drum-Thigh-Breast Combo

Fried/Baked Chicken, Bulk-Pack/piece

Organic Thighs

Fried Popcorn Chicken

Organic Whole Wings

Drumsticks - regular pack

Organic Legs

ABF Legs

Drum-Thigh-Wing Combo

Fried Chicken 8-piece Dark

Prepared Breast Strips

Organic Split bone-in Breasts

Fried/Baked Chicken, 12-piece

Split, bone-in Breast - regular pack

Organic Breast Tenders

ABF Leg Quarters, tray-packed

ABF Bnls/Sknls Thighs

Cornish Hen

Baked Chicken 8-Piece Mixed

Rotisserie Leg Quarter

Organic Bnls/Sknls Thighs

ABF Whole Bagged Fryer

IQF Whole Wings

Breast Tender - value pack

ABF Split, bone-in Breasts

Organic Drumsticks

ABF Thighs

ABF Breast Tenders

Drumsticks - value pack

Leg Quarters - tray packed

Organic Whole Bagged Fryer

Bnls/Sknls Breasts - Marinated

Thin Sliced Breasts

ABF Drumsticks

Thighs - value pack

Whole Bagged Roaster

Organic Bnls/Sknls Breasts

Bnls/Sknls Breasts - value pack

Bnls/Sknls Thighs - value pack

ABF Bnls/Sknls Breasts

Percent Change

Chicken Advertising Share: Gainers/Losers from 2016 to 2017

Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Agricultural Analytics (202) 690-3145