Revealed: Supermarket commitment to British lamb
© Tim Scrivener Head into a supermarket this month and you should see nearly all British lamb.
The meat is now in healthy supply and five of the eight biggest retailers – Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Aldi, Waitrose and Lidl – say they are only selling UK sheepmeat over the summer and into the autumn.
It was a different story last month though, when only Morrisons, Aldi and Waitrose shelf facings were 100% British lamb (Co-op was 96%), according to AHDB’s Beef and Sheep Watch survey.
Of the other Big Four retailers, Asda GB lamb facings were only 50% in June, Sainsbury’s 56% and Tesco 59%.
Lidl had the lowest GB lamb facings in the month at 45%, according to the survey.
How retailers’ sourcing policies measure up
In the past week though, Farmers Weekly asked supermarkets for details of their sourcing policies for their fresh, own-label lamb.
Asda, Britain’s third-largest supermarket, would not say when its southern hemisphere or British lamb seasons started.
All the other retailers, however, made precise statements this year, setting out when their supply became wholly British.
Aldi was the only one to stock 100% British lamb year-round, although it is growing rapidly, it still accounts for just 6.1% of the grocery market.
Quality and volume still used as excuse for imports
A lack of volume and quality available year-round was the reason given by other retailers as to why they also stocked New Zealand or Australian lamb at certain times of year.
National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker said too many retailers used “out of season” as a get-out.
See also: Beef and pig farmers see tiny rise in share of retail price
“We have the production systems to ensure that [lamb] never gets out of season,” he said.
“Retailers use the excuse that the quality of lamb is substandard later in the season. However, lamb gradually becomes a different product as it approaches 12 months of age and far more could be done to make this a positive and not a negative.”
NFU chief livestock adviser John Royle said he wanted more clarity about when supermarkets needed meat from UK farms as well as a longer domestic season.
“We would like to see clear signals and a commitment [from retailers] to their producers, who will be aiming to finish lambs to meet early demand,” said Mr Royle.
See also: Tips on tackling mastitis in sheep
But he added that retailers’ lamb producer groups (such as at Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s) were generally well-received and improved communication and lamb quality.
The NSA’s Mr Stocker however, said retailers could simply treat a small group well, earn the positive headlines – then treat the majority of farmers worse.
One bright spot for British livestock farmers, at least in the short term, is the weakening pound amid the Brexit uncertainty.
This makes imported meat more expensive, so should make UK lamb more competitive in the battle for shelf space at home and abroad.
How retailers’ sourcing policies measure up
| Retailer | Grocery market share* |
Which months does it stock British lamb? | Which months does it stock New Zealand or Australian lamb? | The explanation |
| Tesco | 28.2% | Sells GB lamb year-round. 100% GB on fresh meat counters all year. Fresh mince is 100% GB. Uses PGIs including Scotch, Welsh and West Country. | Sells New Zealand lamb year-round. Does not source from Australia. | “When in season, we strive to be predominantly British in our packaged range. Our customers tell us they like to have a choice. Both British and NZ lamb are recognised by our customers as high-quality products.” |
| Sainsbury’s | 16.3% | Sells 100% GB lamb from 1 July. Taste the Difference range, organic, service counters and some standard lines are GB year-round. |
At other times of the year, Sainsbury’s supplements with New Zealand. | Buys imported lamb “to make sure we have the right quality and availability for our customers in the off-season”. |
| Asda | 15.6% | Would not give “key dates”, as they vary due to supply and demand. | Would not provide dates, but does stock imported lamb. | “We are committed to sourcing British products first and only stock lamb from elsewhere to ensure availability for our customers.” |
| Morrisons | 10.8% | Would not give dates, but said GB lamb was available year-round. | Tops up with imported lamb at Easter and Christmas, when demand for legs spikes. | Morrisons said demand for certain cuts, especially legs, spikes at some points in the year. |
| Co-op | 6.3% | 100% GB from 17 June – a six-week extension to last year’s season. Truly Irresistible range contains lamb from native breeds in Wales. | The early part of the year, before June. | The Co-op sells imported meat “only when British lamb is out of season”. |
| Aldi | 6.1% | 100% GB lamb year-round. | It doesn’t sell imported lamb. | “We do not sell fresh lamb from other countries.” |
| Waitrose | 5.2% | 100% GB on packed lamb by second week in June each year. Service counters are 100% GB year-round. Welsh lamb in store as availability increases from mid-May. | Sells New Zealand from January. Phases it out in May. | The availability of different lamb products changes during the year, says Waitrose. |
| Lidl | 4.4% | GB fresh lamb from 1 July to 31 December. Scotch lamb sold year-round in Scotland. | New Zealand and British from 1 January to 30 June. | “Where possible we are committed to sourcing fresh lamb in season from British producers. However, due to availability issues we are required to source from New Zealand.” Quality and volume could not be met year-round without imports, says Lidl. |
*(June 2016, Kantar Wordpanel)
See how retailers compared in June
What else are retailers doing to support British lamb?
Tesco
In February invited 100 farmers to join a cost-of-production trial.
Tesco said its contracts for its Finest* range, its Sustainable Lamb Group and Future Farmer Foundation were “all initiatives linked to supporting British Lamb farmers.”
Sainsbury’s
About 1,000 farmers in Sainsbury’s lamb development group. It also works on research and innovation in the sector, with projects like reducing worm burdens and anthelmintic resistance.
ASDA
Dunbia supplies Asda’s lamb and through them the retailer works with farmers in the LambLink programme to improve performance. Work includes a feed efficiency trial that started n 2015.
Morrisons
The retailer has direct contact with 1,150 British lamb producers through its livestock buying teams and claims this means “personal contact” with every farmer.
Co-op
The retailer’s suppliers are Dunbia and ABP. It says it works closely with producers through its Cambrian Lamb Group and a newly launched standard supply group.
Aldi
More than two thirds of its products come from British suppliers and it was the first retailer to sign the NFU’s Fruit and Veg pledge.
Waitrose
Has dedicated producer groups in the UK and New Zealand. Current work includes a sustainable forage protein project, breeding programmes and the development of a new pricing model
Lidl
Lidl said it works with Red Tractor, the NFU and “other industry partners” to support a range of activities, including Great British Food Week.