Retailers stocked a significantly higher proportion of British pork on their shelves in May, but, at the time, support for British bacon and sausage was down, as the latest AHDB Porkwatch survey showed mixed results.
Fresh pork
British fresh pork facings were at 88% across the 10 retailers surveyed in May, up from 86% in March, and from 83% in May 2022. This would indicate that, as domestic supplies contract significantly, retailers are not trying to fill the gap with EU pork, which has been similarly priced for some time, also on the back of reduced pig numbers.
Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s all recorded 100% British fresh pork, with Waitrose continuing its gradual decline in this category to 94%, compared with 100% in July 2022.
The big mover was Asda, which recorded 72% British in this category, up from 66% in March and from 59% in May 2022. Tesco is also moving in the right direction, recording 78% in May, fractionally higher than March, and a huge 22 percentage points up on a year ago.
At the other end of the scale, Iceland recorded just 1% British, down from 5% in March.
Bacon
British bacon facings in May were similar to March at 55%, but down on the May 2022 figure of 59% and the recent September 2022 high of 63%.
Co-op and M&S were the only retailers to record 100%, with Waitrose (95%) and Sainsbury’s (85%) also displaying a high proportion of British bacon.
Morrisons was on 49% and elsewhere, there were some low figures, with Tesco on 38%, down from 44% in May 2022, Asda on 24%, down from 41% a year ago, Lidl on 19%, compared with 43% a year ago. Iceland recorded just 10% British.
Ham
The overall proportion of British ham on display dropped to 65%, compared with 67% in March, but unchanged on May 2022.
No retailers recorded 100% British, with M&S (98%), Co-op (96%), Waitrose (94%) and Sainsbury’s leading the way, Aldi on 78% and Tesco 67%.
Asda recorded 44%, well up from 27% a year ago, while Morrisons moved the other way, on 34%, down from 61% in May 2022, and Lidl was on 37%. Iceland was again the lowest of 20%.
Sausages
The overall figure for sausage of 79% was up 3 percentage points on March, but significantly down on the May 2022 figure of 89%.
Only M&S recorded 100%, with Waitrose, on 95%, Aldi on 94%, albeit down on a year ago, and Lidl, 89%, slightly up on a year ago, also scoring highly.
Sainsbury’s (79%), Morrisons (78%), Asda (75%), Tesco (75%) and the Co-op (71%) were all well down on a year ago. Iceland was on 35%, also significantly below its May 2022 figure.
NPA reaction
NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson described the latest Porkwatch data as ‘a mixed bag’. “We very much welcome the big increase in the proportion of British pork on retail shelves over the course of a year, with Tesco and Asda, in particular, doing much better. But the drop-off in British bacon and sausage on display is a concern,” she said.
“We applaud those retailers who are doing their utmost to support British pig producers as they embark on the long road to recovery, after two years of crippling losses.
“If there is one thing the industry crisis has taught us, it is the need for a long-term strategic approach across the supply chain when it comes, not only to sourcing and pricing of British pork, but also to contracts and transparency.
“With the help of Defra’s review of contractual practice, we want to move towards a fairer supply chain where the risks and rewards of pig production are more even distributed.”