Meat wholesalers warn of empty shelves in Scotland

Gaps could appear in the red meat sections at UK supermarkets in 2025 amid a warning that domestic supplies are “nearing a critical tipping point”.

The downward trajectory in cattle numbers has accelerated over the past 12 months, which is set to have an impact on the availability of red meat products on retailer shelves at key points in the year, suggests the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW).

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President of the SAMW Alan Brown said that government ministers and officials have been advised on the likelihood of this scenario, but the warnings had “not been taken on board at all seriously”.

Companies that are members of the SAMW are already operating on reduced throughputs, which is impacting on unit costs.

Mr Brown said this situation risks the future viability of some processing lines and, with that, jobs.

The SAMW is calling on the government for clarity on the future direction of Scottish red meat production.

Mr Brown said the industry needs to be developed “before it’s too late”.  

“It takes three years to produce each kilogram of quality beef for which Scotland is famous, a fact that already takes the impact of any decisions reached next year deep into 2028.

“Building delay on delay, while reducing the herd by stealth, does absolutely nothing for our industry, or consumers, except create the potential for empty shelves and widespread job losses.” 

Inspection charges

Rising processing costs linked to Food Standards Scotland’s (FSS) mandatory inspection charges are also having an impact.

There was a 20% increase in charges in 2024, driven by a new 35-hour week and a 10% public sector pay increase, although this was mitigated by a Scottish government subsidy.

But there could be another major hike in charges in 2025, Mr Brown fears.

The SAMW wants to engage with FSS and government legislators “to create a modern and more cost-effective inspection system”, he added, but said very little progress, if any, was made in this ambition in 2024.

“We must explore innovative solutions, such as using CCTV for ante mortem inspections,” he believed.

“If this works, as we know it can, then we can surely work together to secure the necessary legislative platform.”