Data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has shown that in the 12 weeks to 13th June 2026, red meat retail volumes declined by 3.2% year-on-year.
AHDB said this was driven by lower demand for beef and processed pig meat, and partly offset by growth in primary pigmeat.
Total beef retail spend increased by 6.1% year-on-year over the 12 weeks, driven by higher prices (+9.7%), while volumes declined by 3.2% (51,156 tonnes). AHDB said this indicated continued pressure on shoppers, although the rate of decline had softened compared to previous periods.
Volumes of primary beef fell by 3.5%, which AHDB said reflected the ongoing impact of inflation. Volumes of mince declined at a slower rate (-3.2% vs -3.5% for total primary), and shoppers bought it more frequently, which reportedly reinforced its role as a “versatile and lower-cost” option.
Looking at processed beef, volumes declined by 3% year-on-year, reflecting weaker underlying demand across the category. AHDB said this driven by declines in “key everyday lines” such as burgers and grills (-2%), and sliced cooked meats (-4.4%). This was said to be driven by fewer shoppers and lower purchase frequency overall.
Added-value beef, however, saw a 1.2% growth in volumes, despite a 4% change in prices. Sous vide grew strongly (+10.1%), offsetting declines in marinades (-5.6%) and ready to cook (-28.9%).
Pig meat sees stable pricing
Over the 12-week period, despite a lower inflation, total pig meat purchase volumes declined by 3.4% (32,619 tonnes) year-on-year. Spend on pig meat fell by 2.7%, reflecting “relatively stable” pricing as average prices increased by 0.7%.
AHDB found that primary pig meat performed well, with purchase volumes increasing by 5.1% and spend up 4.8% year-on-year. Growth was driven by key cuts such as mince (+25.6%) and roasting joints (+12.6%), supported by increases in both shopper numbers and volumes per trip. To AHDB, this suggested that pig meat “continued to benefit as a more affordable protein” as shoppers were likely to turn to pork options, particularly mince, as a lower-cost alternative.
At the same time, processed pig meat volumes declined by 5.8%, driving the overall category decline. Losses were seen across core lines including bacon rashers, sausages and sliced cooked meats, which was said to be due to fewer shoppers and lower purchase frequency. AHDB noted that this could reflect a shift away from more heavily processed formats.
Added-value pig meat continued to grow, with volumes increasing by 5.8% year-on-year. Spend also rose, supported by shoppers purchasing larger volumes per trip. Sous vide and marinade products were “key areas of growth”, highlighting continued demand for convenient meals, even as shoppers remained price conscious.
Lamb spend increases but volumes fall
Total lamb retail spend over the 12 weeks increased by 5.1% year-on-year, despite volumes declining slightly (-1.1%, 13,601 tonnes). This was driven by a 6.2% increase in prices, with shoppers also spending more per trip.
Primary lamb volumes fell by 3.2% year-on-year, reflecting the continued impact of higher prices. Lamb steaks performed strongly, with volumes up 9.2% driven by higher frequency of purchase.
However, roasting joint volumes declined year-on-year (-7.3%) despite a strong Easter performance. AHDB said that this suggest that while lamb remains a “key seasonal choice”, price pressures are limiting purchases of higher-cost cuts outside key occasions.
Processed lamb volumes declined by 4.7% year-on-year, continuing a weaker trend. AHDB found that this was driven by fewer shoppers and lower purchase frequency, although volumes per trip increased, indicating that when shoppers do purchase processed lamb, they are buying slightly more per occasion.
Volumes of added-value lamb products were up 7.4% and spend rose by 16.3% year-on-year. Growth of the lamb category was said to be driven by sous vide (+6.2%) and marinades (+12.7%) where both saw an increase in shopper numbers and higher volumes per trip, highlighting continued demand for convenient lamb options.
