The proportion of British pigmeat products on display in the major supermarkets in May fell across all categories compared with a year ago.
AHDB’s latest Porkwatch survey showed 87% of fresh pork products were British, compared with 88% in March and in May 2023. Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s were all 100% British, with Waitrose on 96% (100% on own label), Tesco 77%, Asda 61%, a big drop from 72% in May 2023, and Iceland just 3%.
The survey showed 54% of bacon on display was British, up on March, but down from 55% in May 2023, with only the Co-op and M&S on 100%, followed by Waitrose on 93% and Sainsbury’s, 80%. At the other end of the scale, Lidl and Aldi were on 16% and 17%, respectively, recording big reductions on a year ago, with Asda, 27%, and Tesco, 36%, also heavily reliant on imported bacon.
Overall, British ham facings, at 62%, were down from 65% 12 months earlier, with M&S (99%), Co-op (96%) and Waitrose (90%), leading the way followed by Sainsbury’s (80%), Aldi (78%) Tesco (62%). No other retailer recorded above 41%
The overall proportion of British sausage on display, at 78%, was down from 79% in May 2023, with M&S on 99%, Aldi, which is always strong in this category on 98%, Waitrose on 95% and Lidl, 91% recording the highest percentages, and all other retailers stocking between 70 and 75%, except Co-op, which scores unusually lowly in this category at 66% and Iceland (48%).