Sales of fresh beef, pork and lamb in the UK grocery market have fallen during 2018, but at the same time processed meat sales have risen, the latest figures from consultancy firm Kantar Worldpanel indicate.

In the 12 weeks to 9 September 2018, sales of fresh beef cuts in the UK were down by 5.2% year-on-year to £424m, which Kantar analysts suggest was due to lower volumes of beef on promotional offer in supermarkets.

Sales of roasts were down by 28%, after the volume of roasts on sales promotions fell by 74%. However, steaks saw a 10% rise in sales, which was supported by a 37% increase in the amount of steaks on promotion.

Sales of fresh pork cuts reduced by 3.8% year-on-year to £160m during the 12-week period.

Lamb saw the biggest reduction in consumer purchasing, with sales down 7.6% to £102m.

According to Nathan Ward from Kantar Worldpanel, the main factor behind the lower sales of lamb was a 48p/kg increase in retail price.

“The volume of sales on promotion in lamb is down 46%, now accounting for 11% of all sales, compared with 25% of all sales in primary meat and poultry,” he said.

The hot weather during the summer of 2018 boosted sales of processed meats and convenience foods, as picnics and barbecues proved popular.

In the 12 weeks to 9 September, sales of burgers in the UK were up by 14.5% year-on-year to £98m and sales of sausages increased by 6.2% to £153m. Sliced cooked meat sales were up by 3.0% to £522m, but sales of bacon were down by 3.4% to £240m.

Farmers’ share

Meanwhile, the latest figures published by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in England show that beef and sheep farmers in Britain continue to receive about half the retail value of an animal. In September 2018, the average beef price was 369p/kg, but the equivalent retail price was 705.6p/kg. On lamb, the average producer price was 410.3p/kg, but the equivalent retail price was 859.9p/kg.

However, it is actually pork producers who receive the lowest share of the final retail price, with AHDB putting the producer price at 152.2p/kg in August 2018, but the equivalent retail price at 385.8p/kg. In other words, pork producers receive less than 40% of the final retail price.

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