In Mexico, Costco is a leading distributor of U.S. beef and pork cuts – not just to everyday shoppers, but also to businesses. With Costco looking to expand its sales of U.S. red meat to foodservice clientele in Mexico, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently held training seminars aimed at educating Costco sales personnel on the needs of chefs working in Mexico’s restaurant and hospitality sectors. The training sessions were made possible through support from USDA, the Beef Checkoff Program and the National Pork Board. USMEF Corporate Chef German Navarrete, who is based in Mexico City, explains that the seminars were tailored to each Costco location based on the region’s target audience of chefs and foodservice professionals. While information was presented on the attributes of U.S. beef and pork cuts, the program also detailed restaurant preparation methods and kitchen equipment, to give Costco personnel a strong knowledge base when approaching these customers. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2024/12/usmef-costco-mexico-foodservice-training-121624.mp3 U.S. pork exports to Mexico are reaching new heights in 2024. Through October, exports totaled nearly 950,000 metric tons, up 6% from last year’s record pace, valued at $2.1 billion (up 11%). Beef exports increased 13% to 193,000 metric tons, while value climbed 15% to $1.12 billion.