British pork up, bacon and sausage down - Porkwatch latest

The proportion of British pork on display across the country’s biggest 10 retailers in November was up on a year ago, but bacon and sausage volumes well down, the November AHDB Porkwatch survey showed. 

The survey painted a mixed picture, with he proportion of British fresh pork on the shelves in November up slightly on September at 89%, the highest figure this year and well up on the November 2022 figure of 85%.

Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons, M&S and Sainsbury’s were 100% British, with Waitrose on 98% (100% own label), Asda on 68%, up from 58% a year ago, Tesco on 78% and Iceland on just 1%.

However, the overall proportion of British bacon was down from 60% in November 2022 to just 54% in November 2023, which was slightly lower than the September figure.

While Co-op and M&S remained at 100%, there were some very low figures, including Aldi, at 18% versus 62% a year ago, Asda, 27%, down from 50% a year ago, Lidl, 15%, down from 43%, and Morrison, 36%, down from 62%.

It was a similar story for British sausage, which was down from 85% in November 2022 to just 72% across the top 10 retailers. Aldi, M&S and Waitrose were all on at least 97% with Lidl on 91%, but Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco recorded notable reductions on a year ago.

The overall proportion of British ham on retail shelves, at 64%, was up slightly on September, but fractionally down on a year ago, with Co-op, Aldi, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose leading the way, but low figures for Asda, Lidl Morrisons and Iceland.

NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson welcomed the improved support for British pork, but said the figures for bacon and sausage reflected the growing price differential with imported EU pork since the summer. HMRC import data shows import volumes rising year on year since the start of the summer.

"Going into 2024, we urge all retailers to do their utmost to support British pig producers across all product ranges," she said.