Pig prices continue to fall

The National Pig Association (NPA) is continuing to pressure the retailers for greater support to home production (see MTJ 16 October) but despite this, prices fell another 2p to just 140p/kg, down from 156p/kg in September.

An industry insider said: “Producers are fearful the DAPP will fall another 2-3p and, by mid-November, we could be as low as 135p/kg. A bigger fear is that it could fall below the cost of production again, which is around 133p/kg, putting us back to where we were a year ago.”

The NPA is continuing to pressure retailers to pledge greater support to British Quality Standard pork, with both Tesco and Sainsbury’s promising to increase efforts. Tesco is reported to be ensuring at least a minimum percentage of its pork on promotion will be British, while Sainsbury’s has started promoting British pork with its television adverts.

The NPA is continuing to pressure for a meeting with Asda bosses, a spokesman said, to put the case forward for British meat.

Meanwhile, latest figures from TNS show a growth in support for retailers pledging 100% British support. According to the NPA, for the four weeks to 4 October, volume sales of pork in Morrisons had grown by 45%, the Co-operative 40% and Waitrose 15%, compared with overall market figures of 7.7% by volume for the 52 weeks to 4 October.

An NPA spokesman said: “The figures go to show that you don’t have to offer cheap imported product to boost your sales. Consumers are actively looking to choose British.”

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