Press Release

Forget the power tools, golf shirt or terry robe as the ideal Father’s Day gift this year. A new survey shows more than 90 percent of dads with a child under 18 in the home would like a top quality USDA prime steak this Father’s Day.

The research focused on American perceptions about steaks as well as public perceptions on a variety of topics that are of interest to consumers. The survey commissioned by Stock Yards, which offers the world’s finest steaks, was designed by Strategic Intent, a consumer research company, and fielded by Synovate, a global market intelligence company.

“Finding the perfect Father’s Day gift is always a challenge for many people,” said Tamra Zygmunt, Vice President of Marketing, Stock Yards. “But our research confirms that the choice is really quite simple -- Dads want a thick, juicy steak for Father’s Day.”

The survey also found that more than four-fifths of Americans want high quality, flavorful beef at home like what is served at top tier steak restaurants. According to Zygmunt, both wet-aging and dry-aging contribute to the flavorful taste and tenderness of the best steaks served at the nation’s finest steakhouses and restaurants. Stock Yards steaks are selected from Midwestern corn-fed stock, hand-trimmed by master butchers and expertly aged for maximum tenderness and flavor.

“More people want high quality, restaurant quality beef for family dinners and entertaining friends,” Zygmunt said. “Our goal is to help them create a fine dining experience at home by offering consumers top-quality, expertly-aged and flavorful USDA prime steak and chops.”

Since 1893, Stock Yards has provided the highest quality grades of beef including USDA Prime, USDA Choice and Certified Angus® Brand to America’s finest restaurants, steakhouses, resorts and clubs. Customers include Gibsons, Harry Caray’s, Hugo’s Frog Bar, Lawry’s, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Wildfire and other legendary steakhouses and fine restaurants.

Today, diners can order the same restaurant quality cuts via catalog by calling 877-785-9273 or online at www.stockyards.com.

Survey Background

The study was conducted online with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Americans 18 years of age or older between May 19-21, 2009. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. The research focused on American perceptions about steaks as well as public perceptions on a variety of topics that are of interest to consumers. It was designed for Stock Yards by Strategic Intent, a consumer research company and fielded by Synovate, a global market intelligence company. The findings are balanced to be representative of the general population based on statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

About Stock Yards

Stock Yards offers the world’s finest steaks. The company was founded in 1893 at the fabled Chicago Union Stock Yards, today is located at 340 N. Oakley Boulevard in Chicago. In 2000, Stock Yards was acquired by U.S. Foodservice, which is one of America’s premier foodservice distributors in the United States. Based in Rosemont, Ill., U.S. Foodservice distributes food and related products to more than 250,000 customers, including restaurants, healthcare facilities, hotels and resorts, cafeterias, schools and colleges. Visit www.usfoodservice.com for more information.

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