Chicken Wing Prices Drop, But Restaurant Savings May Be Limited

Chicken wing prices have fallen significantly from pandemic-era highs, offering a potential boon for consumers and restaurateurs. Wholesale whole wing prices are down from a year ago, with a steady supply available, according to a July market trend report by Performance Foodservice. This decrease is attributed to U.S. meat-chicken producers boosting domestic production by 2.2 percent in 2025, aided by lower feed costs, according to Wells Fargo.

Tom Super, senior vice president of public affairs for the National Chicken Council (NCC), noted that chicken production, including wings, is exceeding earlier expectations due to surprisingly improved hatchability and liveability. "The poultry geneticists and live-production management have apparently begun to overcome these two challenges," Super said.

While wholesale wing prices have strengthened slightly in recent weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they remain affordable for food service buyers. "With the wing supply somewhat fixed, fluctuating consumer demand heavily influences the ups and downs in wholesale prices," Super explained. Wholesale prices opened 2025 below $1.00 per pound and have only modestly risen to slightly above $1.10 per pound. This represents a 66 percent decline from their historic pandemic-era peak above $3.20 per pound, according to Southern Ag Today.

Despite lower wholesale costs, consumers may not immediately see corresponding price drops on restaurant menus. Kipper Greist, managing partner of Jumby Bay Island Grill in Jupiter, Florida, stated that menu prices fluctuate constantly, and the cost of reprinting menus makes frequent adjustments impractical. "If one item drops, three go up," Greist said. "We would rather offer specials like our 99-cent wings on Wednesdays and during football season."

When wing prices were at unattractive levels, food service buyers tended to reduce promotions. As prices become more affordable, however, buyers, particularly those focused on wings, tend to market them more aggressively. The NCC also highlights chicken wings as an "affordable protein option," appealing to consumers who value wholesome protein. This trend, combined with favorable pricing, allows for more affordable gatherings centered around chicken wings.

Greist added that the versatility of chicken wings makes them a perennial favorite, suitable as appetizers or meals. Consumer preferences are also evolving, with a trend toward experimenting with new flavors beyond traditional sauces, such as hot garlic, garlic Parmesan, Thai chili, and mango barbecue. The origin of the chicken wing's popularity is often credited to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, which popularized deep-fried wings coated in hot butter sauce and served with blue cheese and celery. "With new flavors, spices and rubs constantly offering another great reason to try wings again, wing lovers and want-to-be wing lovers find the next wonderful taste an attraction hard to resist," Super added.