Mixed picture for red meat sales over two year trading period
The latest Kantar figures show that over the 12 weeks ending 20th February 2022, pork was the only red meat (compared to lamb and beef) to see growth in sales on pre-pandemic levels.
Beef
Spend on beef declined by 7.3% while volumes fell by 13.5%. The decline in volume comes as sales are compared back to a period last year with more restrictions in place due to Covid. Compared to two years ago, beef volumes are down 1.8%.
Primary beef volumes declined by 18.5% year-on-year, driven primarily by mince, but with all other primary cuts also declining this period. Mince, roasting joints and steak contributed 80% of volume losses year-on-year.
Processed beef volumes declined by 9.9% year-on-year, with burgers and grills accounting for most of the decline, but they are still up by a substantial 11.7% on 2020.
Lamb
Primary lamb declined by 18.6% year-on-year in volume. Roasting joints continue to contribute the most in decline on 2021, and were down 5.9% on pre-pandemic levels. Chops were the fastest declining cut for primary lamb, down 37.7% year-on-year, an increase in average price per kg led to a decline in shopper numbers.
Process lamb, whilst remaining a small part of the market, was in growth, up 17.7% on 2021 driven by existing shoppers buying more burgers and grills.
Pork
Compared to two years ago, pork volumes were up 3.3%.
Processed pigmeat volumes declined by 9.8% with bacon and sausages declining significantly compared to 2021. Versus the same period in 2020, sausage volumes were up 2.8% respectively.
Primary pork volumes declined by 12.6.% with roasting joints accounting for more than half of primary volume losses. However, loin roasting joints were in growth, as cheaper prices led to shoppers purchasing greater volume per trip.
Whilst volumes struggled to reach the levels of last year, nearly all prime pork cuts are in growth compared to 2020.
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