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Texas BBQ Stops Brisket as Costs Jump $1/Pound

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 11:48 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Andrew Soto of Butter’s BBQ in Texas stopped serving brisket after wholesale costs rose $1 per pound.
Brisket made up over 70% of his inventory bill and would need $51 per pound.
USDA said average retail beef prices reached $9.64 per pound in April, 13% above a year earlier.
His sales fell 60% last weekend, prompting him to add smoked beef cheeks as a cheaper menu item.

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Story summary

Andrew Soto of Butter’s BBQ in Texas stopped serving brisket after wholesale costs rose $1 per pound.
Brisket made up over 70% of his inventory bill and would need $51 per pound.
USDA said average retail beef prices reached $9.64 per pound in April, 13% above a year earlier.
His sales fell 60% last weekend, prompting him to add smoked beef cheeks as a cheaper menu item.