March 24, 2008

Ireland pig industry protest against supermarkets slashing pork prices

Supermarkets are slashing pork prices to attract customers, but that move is hurting the Irish pig industry, according to Padraig Walshe, president of Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).
 

Speaking at an industry protest outside Dunnes Stores Head Office, Walshe said supermarkets constantly used pork for discounts and half-price offers in order to pull in customers.

That would affect the industry adversely, which already is facing high feed costs and low pork prices.

The average Irish pig producer has incurred losses of EUR100,000 (US$153,865), which is devastating to the Irish pig industry that earns EUR400 million (US$615.4 million) a year.

Irish pig producers are losing over EUR25 (US$38.4) per pig and the loss has been ongoing for the past eight months, said Walshe. 

The protest was in support of IFA's 'Honesty in Food Pricing' campaign, which is an effort to gain greater transparency in food chain pricing structures.