LMC reports increase in retail lamb sales
In the 12 weeks to the 6th September 2020, total spend on lamb in GB retailers grew by almost 20% from the same period in 2019 to £187.8 million, according to the latest data from Kantar.
As reported in the Livestock and Meat Commission of Northern Ireland (LMC) newsletter, during the same period in 2020, volume sales of lamb through GB retailers increased by 12.9% from 2019 levels, with volume growth recorded across almost all major lamb cut categories. While the increase in volume sales will have had a positive impact on the total spend on lamb in GB retailers during the 2020 period, LMC says that another contributing factor is the 5.6% increase in the average retail price from to £8.90/kg.
LMC added that the increase in lamb sales in volume terms during the 2020 period will also be related to the increase in the number of people choosing to cook at home due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
In addition, strong promotional activity by retailers and levy bodies, including LMC, will have been a key driver behind the increase in lamb sales. The impact of these promotional activities, in particular the Love Lamb Week campaign which ran from the 1st to 7th September 2020, have encouraged an increase in lamb consumption in the home and resulted in increases in retail lamb sales.
The majority of lamb cuts performed better in both value and volume terms during the 12 weeks ending the 6th September 2020 when compared to the same period in 2019 with sales of lamb chops, roasting joints and mince reporting the greatest improvement.
Consumer spend on lamb mince in GB retailers totalled £13.7 million during the 2020 period which is up 36.3% from the same period last year.
Retail spend on lamb chops totalled £26.3 million during the 12-week period ending 6th September 2020 which amounted to a 27.9% increase from the same period in 2019.
In terms of volume sales, chops increased by 23.9% from 2019 levels to total 2,400 tonnes. This increase in volume sales was despite an increase in the average retail price by 3.2% to £10.74/kg.
During the 12-week period week ending the 6th September 2020, overall volume sales of lamb shoulder and lamb leg roasting joints totalled 5,000 tonnes, up by 10.3% from 2019 levels. While increases in volume sales were similar for both lamb shoulder and leg roasting joints, the retail price of shoulder joints recorded a much stronger increase in terms of retail price.
The retail price of shoulder joints increased by 18.9% the retail price of leg roasting joints increased by just 3.8%. The increases in average retail prices and the increase in volume sales have contributed to an 18.5% increase in the overall value of roasting joint sales through GB retailers during the 2020 period to £49.2 million.
Volume sales of lamb mince totalled 1,800 tonnes during the 12-week period, which was up 33.7% from 2019 levels. The average price of mince increased by 2% to £7.56/kg which helped to further boost total spend in this category. Consumer spend on lamb mince in GB retailers totalled £13.7 million during the 2020 period which is up 36.3% from the same period last year.
Retail sales of other lamb cut categories have also performed very well in the same period, however the volumes involved are not as significant as the categories outlined above.
Sales of diced/cubed lamb are relatively small at just 900 tonnes during the same 12 weeks, however, this category showed the largest percentage increase in volume terms of all lamb cuts, up almost 50% from 2019 levels. This increase in volume sales alongside an 11.5% increase in the average price to £9.81/kg resulted in a 63.9% increase in retail spend to £9 million.
Similarly, sous vide lamb volume sales for the same 12-week period in 2020 totalled 1000 tonnes which was a significant 25.6% increase from the same period in 2019. This combined with a 4.2% increase in the average retail price helped drive spend up by 31.1% to a total of £10.1 million in the 12-week period.
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