The National Pig Association (NPA) and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland have called on the UK foodservice sector to use more British pork and provide greater sourcing transparency.
The organisations highlighted that UK pig farmers had endured “a very difficult period” driven by an imbalance of supply and demand and combined with sustained low EU pig prices, while input prices rose due to the Middle East conflict.
Following the news of Morrisons giving pig producers notice on their contracts, NPA said that things had “come to a head”, while retailers have come forward to publicly state their desire to source more British pork.
According to NPA, as far as foodservice is concerned, this is a very different story. It found that companies supplying restaurants and food outlets had been far more reliant on imports than retailers, largely driven by price.
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) GB pork foodservice purchases dashboard showed how foodservice pigmeat volumes declined by 3.5% year-on-year in the 52 weeks to 22nd March, driven primarily by a decline in takeaways. However, while the data breaks down volume and price trends by category, no data is available on purchases of British versus imported product.
NPA and NFUS asked foodservice companies to work with the supply chain to explore the wide range of cuts available that could replace imports. They went on to say that consumers deserved more information about where their pork products come from so they can make informed choices.
They also urged Governments in Westminster and Holyrood to make more effort to back British farmers with their public procurement strategies.
NPA asks for more sourcing information
NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson commented: “The pig sector is going through an incredibly difficult time at the moment, with many independent producers, once again, fighting for their futures.
“There are no easy solutions but one thing that would definitely help give producers confidence to continue is a robust commitment from the foodservice sector to back British pork – and shout about it to their customers.
“We need to address this complete lack of transparency about where these companies source their pork products. The British public deserve better.
“We also understand the pressures the catering sector is under – and the temptation posed by cheaper imports. We are not suggesting that all imports must be replaced by British pork – just that this important sector can do a lot better.
“We know the great British public is right behind our farming industry and wants to support it. Currently, it is not being given the opportunity to do so by the foodservice sector.”
“Without urgent and coordinated action, we risk seeing further herd reductions and producers leaving the sector.”
Andrew Connon, NFU Scotland
NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon stated: “Scottish pig producers are facing an unprecedented crisis, with many receiving prices well below the cost of production and sustaining losses in excess of £1,000 per sow.
“For a typical farm, that can mean annual losses exceeding £500,000. Without urgent and coordinated action, we risk seeing further herd reductions and producers leaving the sector, which would have serious consequences for the resilience of our domestic pork supply chain.
“Our ShelfWatch work continues to demonstrate the important role retailers can play in supporting Scottish agriculture. Where retailers prioritise Scottish sourcing, clearly identify Scottish products and give consumers the opportunity to buy local, it provides a vital route to market for our producers and helps strengthen domestic food production.
“We’re calling on all food system players, including the important foodservice sector, to play their part by strengthening their commitment to domestic sourcing and supporting Scottish producers.”
