NPA calls for more commitment from retailers in securing future of British pork industry
The latest AHDB Porkwatch survey confirmed that five out of the 11 of the UK’s big retailers – Aldi, Co-op, M&S, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s – supported UK pig farmers by stocking 100% British fresh pork in March.
Waitrose was down to 99%, while Lidl was at 98% due to some non-British special buys, according to the survey.
According to the report, two of the UK’s biggest retailers still need to do more – Tesco’s British pork facings were slightly up from 57% in January to 58%, while Asda was also on 58% in March, but this is down slightly from January, although both were up on a year ago. Iceland had just 24% British pork on display.
Overall, across the 11 retailers surveyed, the percentage of British pork on display went up slightly to 81%, while bacon was up from 55% to 57%, ham was slightly down at 65% and sausage was stable at 86%.
The best performers were M&S, which recorded 100% British on bacon and sausage and 98% on ham, and Co-op, with 100% on bacon, 99% and 82% on sausage. Waitrosewas above 90% across all four categories. All three were close to 100% across the board on own label products.
The National Pig Association (NPA) is urging retailers to do more to back struggling British pig farmers by sourcing British pork products wherever possible and paying enough to ensure producers can at least match soaring production costs.
Chief executive Zoe Davies thanked the retailers that are doing their bit, but said some needed to try a lot harder.
Davies commented: “In many ways, retailers hold the key to the future of the British pig industry Some retailers are continuing to back British pig farming in their sourcing policies, and some, but not nearly enough, are genuinely trying to get more money to producers.
“But we need to see a lot more commitment from some our biggest names in the retail sector to secure the future of British pig production.”
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