Retailer Loss Leaders Choking Irish Pig Sector
DUBLIN - IFA President Padraig Walshe says retailers are killing the Irish pig industry by using pigmeat as a loss leader.
21 March 2008
2 minute read
Speaking at an industry protest outside Dunnes Stores Head Office, yesterday, he said discounted pigmeat and half-price offers were constantly being used by supermarkets as headline grabbers to pull in customers.
This was severely damaging the industry, which is faced by sky-rocketing feed costs, and was choking the livelihoods of producers.
The average Irish pig producer has accumulated losses of €100,000, which is devastating the otherwise €400m a year industry.
“Farmers cannot produce two for the price of one. The reality is that Irish pig producers are losing over €25 per pig and have been making losses on every pig sold for the last eight months," said Mr Walshe.
The protest was in support of the IFA's ‘Honesty in Food Pricing’ campaign - an initiative to gain greater transparency in food chain pricing structures.
This was severely damaging the industry, which is faced by sky-rocketing feed costs, and was choking the livelihoods of producers.
The average Irish pig producer has accumulated losses of €100,000, which is devastating the otherwise €400m a year industry.
“Farmers cannot produce two for the price of one. The reality is that Irish pig producers are losing over €25 per pig and have been making losses on every pig sold for the last eight months," said Mr Walshe.
The protest was in support of the IFA's ‘Honesty in Food Pricing’ campaign - an initiative to gain greater transparency in food chain pricing structures.
