Raymond James | Professionally Speaking | Rising Global Demand for Improved Diets Is a Core Factor Driving Up Food Costs

If anyone needs reminding that we are living in a global economy, take a look at the prices in the grocery aisles. Food cost inflation is the highest in 17 years, and a core cause is the rise in standards of living around the world, says Raymond James’ Senior Restaurant Analyst Bryan Elliott. He points out that historically, “as societies increase their standards of living, they increase consumption of a higher order of food – grains to meat, increasing protein intake.” It takes many pounds of grain to create a pound of meat, however, and the extra demand can help create short-term food shortages, Elliott says in this edition of Professionally Speaking, hosted by Larry Pugliese.

For personalized advice on how the current situation might affect or present an opportunity for your portfolio, please contact a Raymond James financial advisor.

Bryan C. Elliott

Senior Vice President - Equity Research
Raymond James & Associates

Bryan Elliott joined the Raymond James equity research department in August 2001 to follow small- and mid-cap restaurants, with a particular emphasis on the casual dining segment. Prior to joining Raymond James, Mr. Elliott spent 15 years with The Robinson Humphrey Company, where, in addition to restaurant chains, he developed research expertise in food distribution, food manufacturing, beverages, and retail chains. He earned his M.B.A. degree from the Johnson School at Cornell University and a B.A. in economics from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mr. Elliott has won numerous annual awards for stock picking and EPS estimate accuracy from The Wall Street Journal Best on the Street Survey and Starmine. He and his wife have two grown sons, which has allowed each of them to significantly lower their golf handicaps in recent years.

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