ASDA and Tesco Continue Retreat from British Pork
UK - The recession has caused increased competition between retailers at a time when there is also a significant increase in farmgate and retail prices of pork and pork products, particularly those sourced in Britain. These pressures are probably the reasons for the falls in some retailers of British and the Quality Standard Mark.
The share of British facings for pork has fallen in two Porkwatch periods from 80 per cent to 76 per cent with a similar fall to 60 per cent for the Quality Standard Mark. The fall in British has happened in five of the 12 retailers audited and in the Quality Standard Mark of seven of the ten audited.
The share of British facings for ham is edging forward and is now 39 per cent. However the Quality Standard Mark continues to fall and is now only 4 per cent. Both British and and Quality Standard Mark sausages continue to rise to new highs of 66 per cent and 38 per cent respectively.
ASDA: The performance of British on pork continues its steady decline from 80 per cent in July 2008 to 71per cent in May 2009. A similar performance is reflected on Quality Standard Mark with a fall from 74 per cent to 67 per cent. Conversely on sausages the British facings have increased significantly from 53 per cent to 69 per cent and Quality Standard Mark from 25 per cent to 37 per cent over the year. Ham continues its decline with no Quality Standard Mark, and bacon continues to gently fluctuate.
Tesco: A disappointing performance with pork continuing to fall, down to 62 per cent on British and 49 per cent on Quality Standard Mark, and bacon to 29 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. Ham never had a Quality Standard Mark presence, but sausages are a minor highlight moving up to 60 per cent British and 55 per cent Quality Standard Mark.
