ICMSA president Pat McCormack has pointed to the reported surge in steak sales in Tesco has an illustration of the dysfunction of the Irish beef system.

“Farmers will be fascinated to read of how Tesco – after they became aware of our dilemma – ‘offered to help suppliers’ by putting those steaks on ‘discounted sale’,“ McCormack said.

The idea that this was some kind of rescue mission for the beef sector is a little flimsy

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“With all due respect to the Tesco spokesperson and translated back from corporate-speak, what actually happened here is that Tesco purchased the cuts that were going to the foodservice at prices that there were able to sell the steaks onto their customers at a low price and still make a margin.

Has the price farmers receive for their beef surged by 40%?

“There’s nothing wrong with that, but the idea that this was some kind of rescue mission for the beef sector is a little flimsy. Has the price farmers receive for their beef surged by 40%? Or 20%? Absolutely not.”

McCormack said that he didn’t want to appear ungrateful towards Tesco, but pointed out that retailers sales had “rocketed” by €629m in the three months running up to June 14 and that if retailers were serious about supporting primary producers they should give them an increased margin.

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