Consumer spending on retail pork fell by 12%, year-on-year, during the 12 weeks to September 11, according to AHDB Pork. Even so, the lower prices still failed to halt the slide in sales volumes.
“Prices were down across most major cuts, with the biggest percentage drops coming in loin cuts and shoulders,” said AHDB Pork, quoting the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanal.
Despite the price fall, the overall amount of pork sold was down 6%, year-on-year, with current product “switching data” showing that consumers who moved away from pork, transferred mainly to fresh chicken and chilled convenience products. Pork, however, did make some gains from frozen chicken during the 12-week period.
Spending on bacon also continued to decline, being down 9% on the back of a small fall in the amount purchased but mainly due to a 7% drop in average retail prices.
Sales value for sausages fell by 6%, meanwhile, with sliced cooked meats down 3% and ham down 4%.