The volume of pigmeat sold by UK retailers declined by more than 2% during 2024, but overall spend increased slightly due to higher prices, the latest Kantar data shows.
In the 12 months to December 29, the volume of total pork products dropped back by 2.4% to 0.9bn kg, while the value of these sales increased by 0.3% to £6.7bn, due to a 1.1% increase in average prices paid.
During the 12 weeks to December 29, the volume decline was less marked, with sales down 2% to 0.2bn kg. This resulted in spend on pig meat falling by 0.9% year-on-year, despite a slight increase in average prices paid (+1.1%).
Year to December 29
AHDB’s summary of the data shows, in the year to December 29, primary pork sales, where British pork is strongest, declined by a relatively small 1.4% to 135m kg, with spend up 0.7% to £844m due to a 2.1% increase in prices.
There was significant variation within this category, with shoulder and loin roasting volumes up 10% and 7.5% respectively, belly up 4.6% and mince up 3.9%, but declines for chops (-6.9%), steak (-3.6%) and ribs (-15.1%).
The overall decline was largely driven by a 3.3% drop in processed pork volumes to 525m kg, with spend down 0.4% to £4.1bn.
Sliced cooked meat volumes down 5% and there were notable declines also for bacon (-3%) and gammon (-7%), with sausages down 0.7%. There were some successes in lower volume categories, including ready to cook (13.9%), sous vide (13%), marinades (7.3%) and burgers and grills (5.3%).
12 weeks to December 29
For the final 12 weeks of 2024, primary cut sales volumes of pork dropped by 0.6% to 33m kg, with spend fractionally up to £208m.
The total roasting category saw a 1.9% increase in volumes purchased, due to improved leg (7.6%) and loin (8.3%) performance. The average price of all roasting cuts decreased, and with Christmas falling during this period, an increase in promotional activity improved performance.
Diced pork volumes were up 0.9%, with mince up 5.8%, helped by an increase in promotional purchases during this period. However, there were volumes declines for chops (-11.3%), steaks (-2.6%) and ribs (-3.4%).
Again, a 4% fall in volumes of processed pig meat drove the overall decline in pig meat performance, with spend down 2.9%, despite a 1.1% rise in prices.
Slice cooked meat volumes were down 5.6%, with bacon down 5.3% and sausages down 2%. Burgers and grills was the only processed category to see volume growth (+0.6%) due to an increase in shopper numbers.
The added value saw an overall volume increase of 15.2%, due to a 7.8% rise in sous vide sales, while increased promotional activity for marinades attracted in new shoppers resulting in a 35.1% increase in volumes purchased, according to AHDB.
Ready-to-cook (+12.5%) benefited from increased frequency of purchase and volumes purchased per shopping trip.
Other red meats
Pork performed similarly to lamb (-2%) in volume terms in the 12 weeks to December 29, but spend on lamb was up 3.3% during the period, due to a 5.4% increase in average prices paid.
Spend on beef products increased by 4.4% year-on-year, due to a combination of a slight volume increase (+0.1%), as well as a 4.3% increase in average prices