The prices consumers pay for their meat has lowered as the ongoing price war between some of the major UK retailers escalates.
ASDA has launched a new value campaign ‘That’s Better’ which includes an average of 15 per cent price cuts on ‘every day favourites’, alongside, the retailer promises, improvements in quality across its own brand ranges.
Morrisons has also announced it is ‘chopping meat prices’ by 12 per cent.
This is happening at a time when producer prices, driven by exchange shifts and Chinese demand, continue to creep upwards.
Shifting retail prices do not necessarily signal a parallel shift in producer price, but the National Pig Association says it will be keeping a "close eye" on the situation to ensure retailers do not look to producers to fund the "discounting bonanza."
'Helping producers recoup negative margins'
National Pig Association chairman Richard Lister said the pig industry has been "heartened" by the recent increase in prices being paid to farmers.
"But we continue to stress this is only helping producers recoup negative margins after a sustained period of low prices.
"We keep a very close on eye on what is happening in the retail world and would be extremely disappointed to see any of the fallout from this intensifying retail price war impact negatively on farmers.
"The retailers can fight as much as they like as long as they continue to source and promote British and it doesn’t negatively affect the price producers are paid.
"We were delighted with Co-op’s announcement that it is moving to 100 per cent British bacon.
"Quite frankly there are other retailers out there that could do with showing some of that commitment to British pork," concluded Mr Lister.
