Falling prices and horsegate legacy 'boosting British pork'

The British pig industry is seeing a surge in demand for pork after the horsegate scandal has led to a period of recovery in the industry.

The National Pig Association, on the second anniversary of Horsegate scandal, is commending retailers for remaining committed to British pork, particularly in the face of intense provocation from mainland Europe and Russia's meat embargo, which is causing serious market difficulties.

"You wouldn’t expect us to welcome the steady decline in pig producer prices over the past few months — but we do applaud the fact that these price drops are helping retailers and foodservice to delight customers with lower prices for British pork and pork products," says National Pig Association chairman Richard Longthorp.

"Retailers are sticking to the promises they made after Horsegate to source more British pork because it is a quality, farm-assured product, with a short, transparent supply chain," said Richard Longthorp.

In particular NPA praises the British pork ‘hundred-percenters’ as identified by the industry’s Porkwatch survey, namely Waitrose, M&S, Budgens, the Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and hard discounters Aldi and Lidl.

"Pork is not only the most versatile of meats, it remains outstanding value — which is particularly important whilst consumers remain price conscious in what, for many, are still challenging times," says Mr Longthorp.

"With a 20p a kilo drop in pig prices since June, the value of British pork is now even greater, especially as customers are getting a locally-produced high-quality product."

To return to the pre-Horsegate days of sourcing meat solely on price, and regardless of origin, would be the worst kind of short-termism, he said.

"The huge surge in the popularity of British pork we have seen since Horsegate has led to a period of recovery in the British pig industry, with investment in staff training and apprenticeships, new facilities, new technology and new accommodation — and everybody has benefited."