While operators need to closely monitor the avian flu, which has caused the destruction of more than 30 million chickens and turkeys, chicken production is up 3.1 percent compared to last year, says DeWayne Dove, vice president of risk management for SpenDifference. This increase in production, coupled with a decrease in exports, has industry experts forecasting a 6 percent decrease in cost versus a year ago. Eggs, however, are in short supply, with prices up more than 10 percent. Tom Turkey breast is up approximately 10 percent.

The majority of America's chain restaurants held the line on price hikes the first part of the year but plan to start raising them, according to a new survey from SpenDifference, a restaurant supply chain co-op.