Abstract The red meat processing industry has an important place in the food industry in Turkey. However, there are significant problems that limit the contribution of the industry to the red meat sector, particularly with regard to the livestock enterprises which are the source of raw materials. The aim of this paper is to identify the problems of the red meat processing industry, and to suggest solutions to these problems, through a case study of Izmir and Afyonkarahisar provinces, which together provide a useful representation of the structural characteristics typically found in the red meat sector in Turkey. In this study, a total of 71 face-to-face surveys were conducted with the managers of slaughterhouses (19), meat combines (13) and meat and meat product processing plants (39). The current situation of the enterprises and their problems were examined, particularly with regard to raw material supply, production and marketing. High and unstable prices of raw materials, combined with high costs, are the major problems. In order to resolve the problems in the industry, horizontal and vertical integration needs to be improved throughout the entire supply chain, starting from livestock farming through to the point where the end product reaches the final consumer.