Retailers slammed for not supporting UK sheep industry

The NSA has called for the decision makers of several of the UK’s six largest retailers to ‘hang their heads in shame’ for not supporting the UK sheep industry.

This follows the publication of figures suggesting New Zealand lamb is still accounting for more than half of all fresh lamb on supermarket shelves.

More than half of all fresh lamb sold in the period leading up to 7 October was from NZ and of the six major retailers, Somerfield had the most foreign lamb on shelves, followed by Tesco.

The publication of the retail price spread for lamb has also sparked condemnation, with data showing farmers receive just 36% of the retail price. Farm gate prices are continuing to fall as the foot and mouth disease crisis remains to have an impact, implying that retailers have maintained consumer price despite farm gate prices dropping significantly.

NSA chief executive, Peter Morris said: “If anyone was naïve enough to think that some of the multiple retailers have any thought or concern for the future supply of home produced lamb to UK consumers, then this clearly shows they have none.

“Words fail me in respect of the three worst offenders. How, when there is a UK sheep industry in meltdown, they have the gall to have so much NZ product on their shelves is beyond my comprehension.

“It is disgraceful, appalling and the management and decision makers within those companies should hang their heads in shame.”  

The NSA will be writing to the three major retailers, urging them to explain current lamb buying and pricing policies and asking if they feel these policies fit ‘corporate responsibility’ agendas.

“We will also write to the Prime Minister to inform him of the detail of this independent survey work, asking for his opinions and thoughts of how these retailers have reacted to his comments earlier in the year asking retailers to support red meat supply chains.”