Pork sales down but bacon and sausage volumes on the up

The latest retail sales data for pigmeat showed mixed results for the last quarter of 2016, with pork sales down but bacon and sausage volumes up.

The amount spent on fresh/frozen pork in the 12 weeks ending January 1 was 7 per cent down over on the same period last year, following similar trends seen over recent months, according to latest data from Kantar World panel. 

The volume sold fell by 5 per cent year on year despite the average price being 2 per lower at £4.54/kg. Sales of leg roasting joints and minced pork recorded an increase over the period but all other cuts saw a fall.

Pork volumes were once again affected by consumers switching to other meats such as beef and poultry, which both recorded increases in volumes sold as prices fell, according to AHDB Pork.

More encouragingly, the volume of bacon sold recorded an increase of 4 per cent year on year. However, due to lower average prices, the total spend on this category was down by 1 per cent.

Bacon performed better over the Christmas period. In the four weeks ending January 1, volumes of bacon sold were up 7 per cent year on year, outweighing a fall in average price to record an increase of 3 per cent in total spend.

The total spend on sausages increased by 2 per cent, driven by a rise in volumes sold and average prices.

 

Prices fall back in New Year 

As expected, UK pork prices fell back slightly in the early weeks of 2016, following the seasonal trend of recent years. The latest EU-spec Standard Pig Price (SPP) had slipped back from a high of nearly 152p/kg before Christmas to 150.6p/kg for the week ending January 21.

But it remains a very healthy 35p/kg up on last year. The market is still basically in balance after allowing for demand easing post festive season, AHDB Pork said.

For more on the latest pig price, see Pig World

Last year saw UK pig production reached its highest level since 2000, up 1 per cent on 2015 to 908,000 tonnes and surpassing beef for the second year running, official Defra figures show.

The increase was almost entirely driven by the first half of the year, as production fell back in the second half.