AHDB: UK red meat retail performance
Beef retail performance
Over the past 12 weeks, spend was seen to increase by 9.5%, driven by an 18.0% increase in average price, as volumes purchased declined by 7.2% (9,149 tonnes) (Worldpanel by Numerator UK, 12 w/e 5 October 2025).
Primary beef volumes saw a 10.0% decrease this period, with all primary cuts in decline. Mince saw the greatest actual decline (-2,774 t), a reduction of 8.5% year-on-year. This was driven by a combination of a reduction in shopper numbers, as well as a reduction in volumes purchased per buyer, likely due to shoppers noticing the 35.5% increase in average price, the greatest increase of the beef category. Diced saw the smallest actual decline (-65 t), down 2.4% year-on-year due to a reduction in shopper numbers and volumes purchased per shopper.
Total processed beef saw a 11.5% decline in volume purchased year-on-year. Burgers and grills drove this decline with 1,815 t (-12.0%) fewer being purchased during the period.
Total added-value products also saw a volume decrease of 4.4% this period. However, not all added value cuts were in decline, as sous vide saw a 5.9% increase (147 t) in volumes purchased, driven by an increase in shoppers during the period. Of the total beef category, sous vide saw the smallest average price increase year-on-year and was one of the only offerings to see an increase in promotional activity. This may have positioned sous vide as a comparatively better value option in the eye of the consumer and helped boost demand.
Lamb retail performance
Lamb retail products saw a 16.7% decrease in volumes purchased (-2,990 t), accompanied by a 13.0% decrease in spend year-on-year (Worldpanel by Numerator UK, 12 w/e 5 October 2025). Average prices paid increased by 4.4%.
Total primary lamb cuts saw a 24.3% volume decrease during the 12-week period, driven by declines across the majority of cuts. Steaks was an exception to this, as volumes purchased increased by 25.1% year-on-year. This increase was driven by an increase in shoppers, as well as an increase in volumes purchased per shopper.
Processed lamb volumes saw a 1.9% increase in volumes purchased this period, despite burgers and grills (-0.8%) seeing a slight decline decline.
Total added value lamb saw a 5.0% decrease in volumes year-on-year, and despite an increase in volumes purchased per shopping trip, both marinades (-13.7%) and sous vide (-1.8%) saw volume declines.
Pig meat retail performance
Pig meat products saw a 3.3% increase in spend, driven by a 2.6% increase (+5,243 t) in volumes purchased combined with and a 0.7% increase in average prices paid (Worldpanel by Numerator UK, 12 w/e 5 October 2025).
Primary pig meat saw volume increases of 7.4% this period, with increases seen for belly (+1.9%), fillet (+11.9%), mince (+35.1%), ribs (+38.2%), shoulder roasting (+4.5%) and steak (+14.7%). Belly performance was driven by an increase in volumes purchased per buyer, and shoulder roasting joints performance was driven by an increase in shopper numbers during the period. Mince, fillet, ribs, and steak all saw an increase in shopper numbers and an increase in volumes purchased per shopper boost their year-on-year performance.
Processed pig meat saw a 1.8% volume increase over the 12-week period. Sausages (+4.3%), sliced cooked meats (+1.4%), and burgers and grills (+9.7%) all saw volume increases which offset declines seen by other processed cuts. Sausages primarily benefitted from an increase in frequency of purchase, while sliced cooked meats performance was driven by an increase in volumes purchased per shopping trip. Meanwhile, burgers and grills saw increased buyers and volumes purchased per shopping trip during the period.
Total added value products saw an 10.0% increase in volumes this period, and all added value products saw an increase in shopper numbers during the 12-week period. Sous vide (+11.5%) also saw an increase in frequency of purchase, while ready to cook (+26.1%) performance was additionally driven by increases in volumes purchased per buyer. Marinades (+3.7%) saw a slight increase in volumes purchased per shopping trip, however its performance was driven by the increase in shopper numbers.
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