April 9, 2009
Belgian poultry consumption up 5 percent in 2008
The average Belgian consumed 9.52 kilogrammes fresh poultry meat in 2008, a 5 percent increase in comparison to 2007, according to figures of the Flemish Bureau for Agriculture and Fisheries Marketing (VLAM).
In value, the increase amounted to 9.2 percent, making the average spending money EUR65.50 per capita. One of the causes of these higher expenses is higher prices.
The number of people buying poultry meat, has decreased slightly from 91.7 to 91 in hundred. However, the buying frequency increased from 14.3 to 14.9 times a year.
The percentage of chicken grew as well, both in volumes as in expenses at 87.8 percent. This way, chicken has increased its market leadership in comparison to turkey and other bird meats.
Sales of chicken parts and processed chicken has clearly been doing well over the last couple of years with processed chicken gaining ground in comparison to entire chickens.
In 2008, 73.5 percent of the total volume of chicken sales was in parts or processed form.
Turkey continues to loose ground, now having a volume percentage of 8.4 percent.
An average Belgian ate 0.91 kilogrammes in 2008 and spent about EUR9.20 on turkey.
In 2000, 57 in 100 families bought turkey at least once, last year this was only 44.
US$1 = EUR0.754 (Apr 9)
