The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has analysed red meat retail data from Worldpanel by Numerator, finding that primary pig meat saw a 5.1% volume increase over the 12 weeks to 2nd November.
Pig meat products saw a 3.8% increase in spend, driven by a 2.4% increase (+4,861 tonnes) in volumes purchased and a 1.4% increase in average prices paid (Worldpanel by Numerator UK, 12 w/e 2nd November 2025).
Primary pig meat saw volume increases of +5.1% this period, with increases seen for belly (+1.3%), fillet (+10.6%), mince (+36.6%), ribs (+19.8%), roasting (+1.1%) and steak (+6.4%). AHDB said that belly performance was driven by an increase in frequency of purchase; while roasting and steak performance was driven by an increase in volumes purchased per shopper during the period. Mince, fillet, and ribs all saw an increase in shopper numbers and an increase in volumes purchased per shopper contribute to a boost in their year-on-year performance.
Processed pig meat achieved a 2.1% volume increase over the 12-week period. Sausages (+4.7%), sliced cooked meats (+0.9%), gammon (+1.4%) and burgers and grills (+5.7%) all saw volume increases, which AHDB said offset declines seen by other processed cuts. Sausages reportedly benefitted from an increase in frequency of purchase as well as an increase in shopper numbers, and AHDB said sliced cooked meats performance was driven by an increase in volumes purchased per shopping trip. Gammon, burgers and grills performance was attributed primarily to an increase in shopper numbers.
Total added value products saw an 11.2% increase in volumes this period, and all added value products saw an increase in shopper numbers during the 12-week period. Sous vide (+16.0%) also saw an increase in frequency of purchase, while ready to cook (+8.0%) and marinades (+5.7%) performance was additionally driven by increases in volumes purchased per shopping trip.
Beef spend rises despite decline in purchase volumes
AHDB observed a 10% rise in beef spend over the 12 weeks to 2nd November, despite a decline of 7.4% in purchase volumes. It said that this was driven by an 18.8% increase in average price, according to its analysis of data from Worldpanel by Numerator.
AHDB found that primary beef volumes saw a decrease of -11.4% during this period, with all primary cuts in decline. Mince saw the greatest actual decline (-3,671 tonnes), a reduction of 10.7% year-on-year. This was driven by a combination of a reduction in shopper numbers, as well as a reduction in volumes purchased per buyer, likely due to shoppers noticing the 37.1% increase in average price, the greatest increase of the beef category. Stewing saw the smallest actual decline (-48 tonnes), down 2.8% year-on-year due to a reduction in shopper numbers.
Total processed beef saw an 8.2% decline in volume purchased year-on-year, and AHDB said that burgers and grills drove this decline with 778 tonnes (-6.2%) less being purchased during the period.
Total added-value products also saw a volume decrease of -1.2% this period. However, according to AHDB, this was due to marinade performance, as sous vide and ready-to-cook beef products saw volume growth this period. Sous vide saw a 7.6% increase (213 tonnes) in volumes purchased, reportedly driven by an increase in shoppers during the period, as well as an increase in frequency of purchase. Ready-to-cook saw an 8.4% (33 tonnes) increase, also due to an increase of shopper numbers. Sous vide saw the smallest average price increase year-on-year and was one of the only offerings to see an increase in promotional activity, which AHDB suggested may have positioned sous vide as a “comparatively better value option” in the eye of the consumer and helped boost demand.
AHDB has made recommendations for industry to minimise the impact of retail price inflation, and said it would continue to monitor the impact prices were having on beef demand.
Lamb prices rise increase by 3.5%
Lamb retail products saw a -9.4% decrease in volumes purchased (-1,704 tonnes), accompanied by a -6.2% decrease in spend year-on-year (Worldpanel by Numerator UK, 12 w/e 2nd November 2025). Average prices paid increased by 3.5%.
Total primary lamb cuts saw a -13.4% volume decrease during the 12-week period, which AHDB said was driven by declines across the majority of cuts. Steaks was an exception to this, as volumes purchased increased by 29.2% year-on-year, and this increase was reportedly driven by an increase in shoppers, as well as an increase in volumes purchased per shopper.
Processed lamb volumes saw a 19% increase in volumes purchased this period, with burgers and grills driving this performance. Burgers and grills saw an additional 17% (+148 tonnes); AHDB attributed this to an increase in shopper numbers and volumes purchased per shopping trip.
Total added value lamb saw a -5.1% decrease in volumes year-on-year, and despite increases in volumes purchased per shopping trip, both marinades (-8.5%) and sous vide (-4.6%) saw volume declines.
