NFU Scotland has responded with huge frustration at recent industry intelligence figures which appear to show a void between major supermarkets when it comes to stocking Scottish and British pork on their shelves compared to their commitment to beef and lamb.
The farmers union claims that while retailers such as Co-op, Morrison’s, Aldi and Lidl have a strong presence of Scottish and British pork, other supermarkets, like Tesco and Asda, do not.
NFU Scotland president, Martin Kennedy, said: “It is a shocking statistic that less than half of the fresh pork on sale in Tesco and Asda is British or Scottish. Both these stores have a strong public commitment to source other meats from the UK and we are asking them to mirror that commitment with pork.
“We saw similar trends earlier this year and are hugely disappointed that despite continued discussions with all major retailers we are once again reading appalling statistics about the lack of domestic pork within Tesco and Asda stores.
"It is evident that far greater support for Scottish and British pig farmers must be given by some. We will work with all retailers and other interested parties to see how domestic sourcing can be improved."
“In stark contrast retailers such as Co-op, Morrison’s, Aldi and Lidl should be applauded for their support of the Scottish and British pork sector. Morrrison’s has even been successfully running an instore price promotion initiative to encourage sales of pork products.
“The past year has seen the consumer become more interested in the provenance of their food and sourcing Scottish or British where possible. Products from this country are of the highest standard and quality. Our farmers are proud of what they do and are pleased that consumers value what they produce. All the retailers need to step up to the plate and give the same commitment to sourcing pork as they do beef and lamb.
“NFU Scotland will remain in contact with all major retailers on the matter. It is evident that far greater support for Scottish and British pig farmers must be given by some. We will work with all retailers and other interested parties to see how domestic sourcing can be improved.
“The justification for major retailers to back our farmers goes far deeper than the shop shelf. With climate change remaining at the top of the agenda for the foreseeable future, sourcing local sustainable products such as Scottish or British pork will play a valuable part of the solution. That is something consumers want to see, and supermarkets must deliver.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
