Retail beef sales increases in the UK
Data released by Kantar Worldpanel for the twelve-week period up to 9 August shows consumers spending over half a billion pounds on beef, helping to offset the loss of business in the eating out sector due to COVID restrictions. Total retail sales were £522.7 million (€577.5 million), up 19.3% on the same period last year, with consumers purchasing a total of 65,000 tonnes of beef (up 16.2%).
Larger households and families with children saw a large increase in the volume of beef purchased. Households with three or more members bought over 20% more beef than the same time last year, with larger households’ purchase of roasting joints up a remarkable 47.2%. Demand for beef mince, which saw a surge in March during pre-lockdown panic buying, was relatively stable – with purchases up just under 10% on the year. Sales of steaks were 21% higher than the same period in 2019, helped by retailer discounts. Roasting joints were slightly more expensive than last summer, but nevertheless saw a big growth in demand, resulting in consumers spending 34.7% more on such cuts than a year ago.
"The initial panic buying phase in the spring where we saw demand for mince for the freezer rather than other cuts, combined with the closure of pubs and restaurants, was a huge challenge for our farmers and processors. But the response has been fantastic from the consuming public. Kantar Worldpanel’s beef retail sales data, like its equally positive recent figures for lamb, show that the consumer has come back to fresh red meat as a healthy and nutritious choice for family meals," commented Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Data Analyst Glesni Phillips.
Several promotional campaigns were launched in England, Scotland and Wales, encouraging shoppers to try new recipes at home, and re-create the dishes they would have eaten in restaurants. "The most positive aspect to these statistics is the sales of premium cuts such as roasting joints and steaks. For farmers and processors it was vital that these cuts, which previously would have been in high demand from the foodservice sector, were purchased by GB domestic consumers," added Glesni Phillips.
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