Consumers bought 1% more pork during the 12 week period to February 2 compared with the same period last year, according to figures from Kantar Worldpanel.
The increase in sales was, in part, driven by a small increase in the amount of pork sold on promotion, accounting for nearly half of total sales. This limited the overall increase in consumer spending on pork, which showed only a marginal increase on the year for the 12 week period.
Increased demand for shoulder joints led the drive for pork, with consumers buying 6% more over the 12 week period. Other roasting joints also showed increased sales, as well as growth in demand for pork chops. With the exception of leg roasting joints, increased sales were made on promotion for all of these products.
Sausage consumers have been trading-up, with demand shifting from standard and economy ranges to higher-quality premium sausages. Sales of standard and economy ranges fell by 3% and 14% respectively for the 12 week period, while premium sausages recorded growth of almost 1% compared with the same period last year.
With little change in the quantity sold on promotion, consumers spent almost 10% more on premium sausages than last year.
Bacon sales dropped during the 12-week period, with shoppers buying almost 4% less than a year before. With a fall in sales on promotion, there’s been a 3% increase in the average price of bacon, resulting in only a 1% drop in spending. However, on a promising note, sales of British bacon increased over the period; consumers bought almost 5% more British bacon, with total expenditure increasing by 7%.
Ham figures continued to look encouraging, with volume sales up by 4% and spending up by almost 6%.