According to the latest monthly report of theAssociation of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), fresh meat and poultry prices in the UK have seen an average increase of 0,9 % over the last month, involving all four major farmed species: beef, lamb, pork and chicken.
Meat sector inflation therefore exceeds the average 1,8% recorded by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) for fresh produce. As BRC CEO Helen Dickinson noted, “red meat lovers will have noticed a rise in beef steak prices due to rising wholesale prices.”
Tony Goodger, communications manager for AIMS, explained that bank holidays and mild weather have influenced demand, contributing to price growth. Specifically, Steaks and lean ground beef increased by an average of 3,71%. On the contrary, roast cuts, promoted during Easter, saw a slight post-holiday decline.
The biggest increases were recorded for beef and lamb, driven by both domestic and foreign demand. For pork and chicken, however, the increase was linked to the rising costs of feed, energy, labor, insurance and health measures.
Goodger predicts that “the upward trend will continue in the coming months, also due to increases in the minimum wage and social security contributions”. However, he concludes, “some affordable options remain available, such as pork fillet, pork mince and British chicken legs”.
