July 27, 2009

The global recession has resulted to poor pork sales in two of the biggest retail markets in the UK.

The performance of British on pork in ASDA continues its steady decline from 80 percent in July 2008 to 71 percent in May 2009. A similar performance is reflected on Quality Standard Mark with a fall from 74 percent to 67 percent. On sausages, the British facings have increased significantly from 53 percent to 69 percent and Quality Standard Mark from 25 percent to 37 percent over the year. Ham continues its decline with no Quality Standard Mark, and bacon continues to gently fluctuate.

Tesco has also posted similar results as pork sales continue to disappoint as it is down to 62 percent on British and 49 per cent on Quality Standard Mark, and bacon to 29 percent and 21 percent respectively. Ham never had a Quality Standard Mark presence, but sausages are a minor highlight moving up to 60 per cent British and 55 per cent Quality Standard Mark.

The share of British facings for pork has fallen from 80 percent to 76 percent with a similar fall to 60 per cent for the Quality Standard Mark. The fall in British has happened in five of the 12 retailers audited and in the Quality Standard Mark of seven of the ten audited.

The share of British facings for ham is edging forward and is now 39 percent. However the Quality Standard Mark continues to fall and is now only 4 percent. Both British and Quality Standard Mark sausages continue to rise to new highs of 66 percent and 38 percent respectively.