Supermarkets still failing to back British lamb this Easter

Supermarkets are still stocking large volumes of imported lamb from New Zealand – despite British lamb being at its most abundant in the run-up to Easter.

At the start of March, NFU Scotland’s secret “shelfwatch”, a union survey which checks Scottish supermarkets for home-produced lamb, found huge variations in support for British lamb across retailers.

More than a month later its members are reporting the situation has not improved.

The NFUS asked its members to report back on the origin of lamb products stocked at their local supermarket – and the union said they had “not got off to a good start”.

See also: 9 supermarkets’ commitment to British lamb compared

NFU Scotland members found Tesco stores were still stocking a high percentage of imported lamb, especially New Zealand lamb, on its fresh meat shelves.

In addition, commingling of home-produced and imported lamb was making it difficult for shoppers to make informed choices to buy Scottish.

Not off to a good start in #makeitscottishthiseaster Member reports 90% of lamb in @Tesco_Scotland Oban is New Zealand! Grrr! pic.twitter.com/9kQNLN4flp

— NFU Scotland (@NFUStweets) April 10, 2017

For instance, almost the entire stock of fresh lamb at a Tesco store in Oban – 90% – was found to be from New Zealand. While in its store in Perth every single leg of lamb was imported.

It was a similar story in an Asda store in Trenant, where 100% of leg of lamb was imported.

Results were better at its store in Ayr with two-thirds of its fresh lamb offering being sourced from Britain, but none of this came from Scotland itself.

South of the border, Farmers Weekly visited an Asda store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and found widespread commingling of UK and New Zealand lamb.

© Philip Case

Furthermore, there was a price promotion for New Zealand leg of lamb under its “Butcher’s Selection” range, reduced from £6.99/kg to £5/kg, with Welsh leg of lamb stocked on the same shelf, yet not in the promotion.

In the Forfar branch of Lidl, New Zealand lamb and Danish pork were being stocked in a chiller unit under Scottish branding, although the store was also stocking Scottish chops.

Lamb in short supply in @LidlUK Forfar but Scot chops here. NZ lamb & Danish pork in FreshScottishMeat counter! #makeitscottishthiseaster pic.twitter.com/9b3P5O5l7I

— NFU Scotland – Angus (@NFUS_Angus) April 10, 2017

NFUS said there was no excuse for supermarkets stocking such high levels of imported meat at this time of year, as Scottish lamb production traditionally falls towards the start of spring. Scottish farmers say they produce enough lamb to meet year-round demand in Scotland.

The early results of the NFUS’ shelfwatch revealed Marks and Spencer, Aldi and Lidl stocked the highest proportion of British and Scottish lamb.

Morrisons was singled out for concern as the long-standing supporter of British farmers was found to have a “worrying” amount of imported lamb available.

But on a spot check to the Sutton branch of Morrisons this week, Farmers Weekly found a vastly improved situation.

All the fresh lamb stocked was British, and clearly labelled as such both on the packet, and on prominent shelf banners.

NFUS is expected to reveal the full findings of its shelfwatch campaign later this week.