Exclusive | Sky-high corned beef prices hit NYC bars, delis ahead of St. Patrick’s Day

The Rising Cost of Tradition: St. Patrick’s Day inflation hits New York

St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebration, green attire, and, for many New Yorkers, a hearty serving of corned beef and cabbage. But this year, the beloved tradition is getting hit hard by inflation. The price of corned beef has skyrocketed, leaving wallets bleeding green and some businesses scrambling to keep up. One supplier, aptly named Mosey’s Corned Beef, has even stopped selling the product altogether due to the climbing costs. Joe DiGangi, owner of Mario’s Meats and Deli in Queens, explained, “These guys couldn’t hack it because of the pricing. Not everyone does it anymore because of the pricing.” The cost of corned beef has risen by 8.7% in the past year, and DiGangi’s deli has seen its single-serving platter of corned beef and cabbage jump from $9.99 to $16 over five years. “The price of everything has risen slowly after COVID – it went up, and it didn’t go back down,” he said. “Every year it keeps going up. It wasn’t drastic this year, but some companies went out of business.”

Inflation’s Ripple Effect on Menus Across the City

The sticker shock isn’t limited to corned beef. Restaurants and pubs across New York City are feeling the pinch of inflation, with prices for everything from chicken to steak to vegetables soaring. At Mulligan’s Irish Pub in Murray Hill, staffers told The Post that the pub increased prices on various meat dishes, including corned beef, in January to reflect the rising costs. Similarly, Midtown’s Connolly’s Pub raised its menu prices by about 5% across the board at the beginning of the year. “The cost of everything’s gone up, it’s not just beef,” said Connolly’s Pub general manager Ardell Reilly. “Beef is on par with everything else. There’s been significant increases in the cost of all produce over the past year – from chicken to beef to fish to vegetables.”

Long Acre Tavern manager Aaron Mackin pointed to another factor driving up costs: the bird flu. “Egg prices and chicken wing [prices] went up, but I think it’s got something to do with the bird flu,” he said. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that uncooked beef roasts, including corned beef, are at an all-time high this year, with the average pound costing about $7.99 as of last month. That’s up from $7.35 per pound last year and $5.53 per pound in 2020 – a whopping 44% increase over three years. Meanwhile, the price of chicken breast and potatoes per pound has actually gone down slightly over the last year, while egg prices have surged by a staggering 96.8%.

Why Are Beef Prices Soaring?

The root causes of the beef price hikes are complex and multifaceted. High grain prices, droughts, and a shrinking domestic cattle inventory have all contributed to record-high beef prices, according to a NerdWallet report. These factors have tightened supplies, leading to higher costs for consumers and businesses alike. Additionally, some restaurant owners say that Manhattan’s congestion pricing has added another layer of expense. “Since congestion pricing went in, it’s affecting delivery trucks, so I’m sure after the first quarter there will be another cost increase,” Reilly said. “I’m sure we’ll see prices go up again in April or May.”

Seth Gottlieb, senior vice president of logistics for Baldor Specialty Foods, previously told The Post that the company expects to pay anywhere from $500 to $1,000 a day in tolls, depending on the time of year. These added costs inevitably trickle down to consumers, making it even harder for restaurants to keep their prices competitive.

A Tough Reality for Businesses and Consumers Alike

As prices continue to climb, many businesses are feeling the strain. The owner of Avenue A Deli, who declined to provide his name, said his customers are buying less as the cost of essentials like cookies, candy, and beer has gone up. “We’re getting fewer customers, and the ones that come buy less. Everything is going out of their reach,” he said. “Everything has gone up. Cookies, candy, beer. Beer has gone up three percent.” In response to declining sales, the deli has even started buying less meat.

Yet, despite the challenges, some businesses are finding ways to adapt. DiGangi reported an uptick in orders this year – about 200 – for his signature corned beef and cabbage platter. He believes that more customers are willing to pay a premium for convenience, especially as more people return to office work. “It just makes people’s lives easy, now that husbands and wives both work … it helps keep the traditions going,” he said.

Looking Ahead: Uncertainty and Tradition

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the question on everyone’s mind is whether food prices will stabilize or continue to rise. For DiGangi, the stakes are high, especially for other traditions like Easter, which is just around the corner. “We make Italian meat pies, we get Italian sweets … anything with eggs is through the roof right now,” he said. “If these egg prices don’t go down by Easter, it’s going to be rough.” For now, New Yorkers will have to shell out a little extra green to celebrate the holiday – and hope that next year’s inflation doesn’t take the luck out of their pockets.