Old Trapper heads to NACS as jerky sales leader

Old Trapper will spotlight its meat snacks at the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, where it says Circana data shows the brand is the dollar-sales growth leader in total U.S. jerky. The company is leaning on fresh category data to argue that jerky remains a key driver for convenience-store retailers.

Why it matters: - Jerky remains a major traffic and sales driver in convenience retail. - Old Trapper is using category data to position itself as a growth brand heading into the 2026 NACS Show. - The company’s message to retailers is that brands gaining share in jerky can help strengthen shelf productivity.

What happened: - Old Trapper said it will attend the 2026 NACS Show Oct. 6-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. - The brand will exhibit at Booth N1273. - Old Trapper plans to showcase its premium meat snacks portfolio and share category insights on jerky’s role in convenience retail. - The company said it is the growth leader in total U.S. jerky.

The details: - Circana data for the 52 weeks ending June 14, 2026, shows dried meat snacks generated $2.1 billion in U.S. convenience-store sales. - Category sales rose 3.7% during that period. - Bagged products represented 48% of category dollar sales. - Over the latest five-year period, total jerky dollar sales increased 16.9%. - Old Trapper jerky grew 24.3% over the same five-year stretch. - Old Trapper outpaced the category by 7.3 percentage points. - For the 26 weeks ending Aug. 9, 2026, Old Trapper added $8.9 million in sales. - Several leading jerky brands declined during that period. - Robert Leary, Old Trapper’s chief marketing officer, said consumers continue to place significant value on bagged jerky and that retailers should prioritize the brands driving category growth. - Leary also said Old Trapper remains focused on quality, value and products that help retail partners build stronger jerky sets.

Between the lines: - Old Trapper is framing the jerky aisle as a performance category, not just a commodity shelf. - The brand’s pitch suggests retailers can use growth data to decide which jerky labels deserve more space and attention. - The emphasis on bagged products signals where Old Trapper believes the strongest consumer demand is concentrated.

What's next: - Old Trapper will use the NACS Show to make its case to convenience-store buyers and category managers. - The company is likely to continue leaning on sales growth and category trends as it competes for shelf space. - More retailer discussion around jerky assortment and productivity is likely as the show approaches.

The bottom line: - Old Trapper is heading to NACS with a clear sales-growth story and a simple message: jerky is still growing, and the brand says it is leading that growth.