Retail pork sales are continuing to fall despite a decrease in the average price across all pork cuts, according to AHDB Pork.
Based on the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel, pork is losing out to fresh chicken, chilled ready meals and main meal accompaniments, with household penetration down 5% year-on-year for the 12-week period ending October 11, 2015.
“The biggest contributor to the fall in volume sales remained chops and steaks, as consumers drop out of purchasing this category,” said AHDB Pork, pointing out that, as a result, household penetration for these items was down 8% in the 12-week period.
“Volume sales have fallen as a result of fewer households purchasing and less being bought per shopping trip.”
The one exception is sausages, both standard and low-fat, which registered growth in the 12 weeks under review.
Ham volumes remained stable during the period, meanwhile, although that was in the face of average prices falling by 6%, as all of the big four grocers ran more price reduction promotions.