Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. September 2025
    2. August 2025
    3. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    4. July 2025
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Buildings supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    13. January 2025
    14. December 2024
    15. November 2024
    16. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    17. October 2024
    18. September 2024
    19. August 2024
    20. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    21. July 2024
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    28. March 2024
    29. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    30. February 2024
    31. January 2024
    32. December 2023
    33. November 2023
    34. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    35. October 2023
    36. September 2023
    37. Health Supplement
    Featured

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025
    Recent

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Comment

Changing consumer habits mean we have to be more creative in how we market our products

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersOctober 7, 20183 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Red Robin, our producer and industry insider, ponders how pig producers can keep pace with a rapidly changing retail and consumer landscape

I read on the BBC website today that Tesco is planning to reinvent a mothballed store as a discount store branded as Jack’s. Tesco, along with the other mainstream supermarkets, has been under pressure for a while, from the discounters Aldi and Lidl and it is seeking to redress the balance. As an industry, we have had some good support from the discounters in the past, but is this likely to be continued in this new venture?

Perhaps Jack’s is beginning to shed some light on Tesco’s £4 billion takeover of the wholesaler Booker, as analysts say Tesco is looking beyond the Aldi/Lidl model to more of a hybrid of a discounter and a cash and carry.

I will admit to the very occasional visit to a wholesaler and an idle glance around their meat section doesn’t exactly fill me with joy – I certainly don’t sense any particular commitment to British produce or clear country of origin labelling. Furthermore, the same BBC article reports that consumers’ positive move to the discounters shows they are willing to put up with less product choice and worse service, which doesn’t mean consumers aren’t looking for quality but it might mean they are less fussy about where it comes from.

Furthermore, the tie up between Amazon and Morrisons to supply groceries online has fuelled speculation that Amazon may buy Morrisons.

I know one or two people who sell non-food items through Amazon and they have found out that they are ruthless in their desire to be the lowest cost supplier. We may be able to hold some sway with Tesco in persuading them to stock British product, but there is no way we will with Amazon.

We know that the millennial generation obtains information and shops in a very different way from the way we did even 10 years ago. They are used to being able to shop around for value from the comfort of their own homes and then have their order delivered to their door.

There is currently so much uncertainty in the marketplace, with the outcome of Brexit negotiations no clearer than they were a year ago and African swine fever now present in western Europe and affecting farmers’ ability to export – and pig prices.

Meanwhile, input costs are rising, particularly feed prices on the back of a relatively poor European harvest. We are going to have to be creative in the way we market our products and we are going to have to keep as keen an eye, as ever, on cost of production.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleWhy the onus is on us to inspire the next generation to pursue an agricultural career
Next Article Government must tackle Brexit veterinary recruitment crisis
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

Comment: Breaking through biosecurity barriers

September 5, 2025

Comment: ‘I want agriculture to be valued as a growth sector’

September 5, 2025

Vet View: Managing heat stress in pigs

August 6, 2025
Latest News

Comment: Breaking through biosecurity barriers

September 5, 2025

Comment: ‘I want agriculture to be valued as a growth sector’

September 5, 2025

Cranswick ‘disappointed’ after Environment Agency rejects permit for proposed Norfolk development

September 4, 2025
Sponsored Content

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1774 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1773 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1772 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.