Waitrose stocking new pork shoulder products

As debate continues around the issue of new product development in the pork sector, some interesting new lines have been spotted in Waitrose over the festive period.

The new products, all from English pork shoulders, according to AHDB Pork, include:

• Asian Inspired Pork
• Mexican Inspired Pibil Pork
• Greek Inspired Pork

While the market has strengthened in the second half of 2016, declining pork consumption in the UK remains a longer-term concern for the industry. 

This has prompted much discussion over the need for a greater focus on developing new pork products in response to changing consumer habits, including on our forum.

AHDB Pork has recently proposed to spend an extra £1m on promoting British pork, over the next three years, starting in 2017 with a focus on Midweek Meals. 

AHDB policy director Mick Sloyan said: "The goal is to position pork as an ideal choice for midweek meals by creating dishes that are relevant to consumers and meet the midweek meal criteria, which places health, convenience and a less than 30 minute cooking time as priorities.  This is where the biggest challenge lies.

"We need the support of processors and retailers and we believe the best time to run this high profile campaign will be September 2017.

"Changing consumer perceptions about pork will take several years to be achieved, and we believe that the best way the industry can do this is for the entire supply chain to work together."

Waitrose is hoping to boost pork sales with its new lines, including this Greek Inspired pork.