The early part of 2026 has seen a return to the gradual downward trend in retail volumes sales of pigmeat products, although the value of pork sales remains higher year on year.
Overall retail pigmeat volumes recorded a welcome increase in 2025, supported, to a large extent, by soaring beef prices.
However, data from Worldpanel by Numerator UK, summarised by AHDB, for the 52 weeks ending February 22 shows total retail pigmeat sales were 0.9% higher year on year at 925m kg. Total spend was 2.3% up at £6.85bn, with the average price 1.4% higher at £7.40/kg.
For the 12 weeks to that date, total retail pigmeat sales were down 1.6% to 219.6m kg, with spend up 0.7% to £1.65bn, on the back of a 2.3% increase in average price to £7.54/kg.
Primary pork
Primary pork, where the UK pig sector is strongest, continued to perform well in the latest 12-week period, with volumes up 1% to 32.9m kg and value up 2.4% to £213.2m on the back of a 1.4% hike in average prices to £6.48/kg.
The stand-out performer by a distance was pork mince, with volumes up a massive 45.4% to 5.5m kg and value up 43.6% to £28m. Pork mince has clearly benefited from its position as one of the lowest priced categories, averaging £5.13/kg, 1.3% lower than during the same period in 2025.
Most other products lost ground in volume terms in the primary pork category, including steak (-10.1%), chops (-15.9%), leg roast (-6.5%), shoulder roast (-3.6%) and loin roast (-8%) and belly (-9.8%).
Processed and added value
Processed pork products fared less well, with overall volumes down 3.5% to 124m kg and value 2.1% lower at £972m, with average price up 1.5% to 7.84/kg.
Gammon sales were up 2.9% but there were notable falls for bacon (-6.6%), sausage (-4.8%), sliced cooked meats (-2.6%) and burgers and grills (-8.3%).
In the added value category, there were big gains, albeit from low overall volumes, for ready to cook, up 26.7% to 1.7m kg and sous vide, up 24.8% to 4.4m kg, despite a 4.8% price increase.
Meanwhile, the latest AHDB Porkwatch survey shows the proportion of British pork products displayed on UK retail shelves in January was at its highest level for a number of years, with the fresh pork category faring particularly well in historical terms.
Beef and lamb sales
Pork sales are still being aided by higher average beef prices, which were 16.1% higher at £10.74 in the 12 weeks to February 22, with volumes, unsurprisingly, 6.9% lower at 128m kg and value 8.1% up at £1.38bn.
Average Lamb prices were also higher year on year, rising by 4.6% to £11.40/kg. Nonetheless, volumes were 1.5% higher at 20.1m kg, with value up 6.2% to £229m.