Latest Meat, Fish & Poultry release available now

The latest Meat, Fish and Poultry (MFP) figures from Kantar Worldpanel are published today, for the 12 weeks ending 28th February 2016. The key proteins in Red Meat (Beef, Lamb and Pork) are all seeing depressed volumes, with Poultry volume continuing to grow. Deflation is still prevalent in the market, and is visible in all the macro categories this period, holding back value growth and disguising some underlying volume growth in the category. Chilled Fish remains the fastest growing sector, but is also seeing deflation as volumes grow ahead of value.

Nathan Ward, Business Unit Director for MFP explains “All the major Red Meat proteins slip into decline this period, as Beef sees a fourth consecutive period of decline, driven by Roasts” . Smaller trips are driving decline in all of the major Red Meats, with shopper losses limited to Pork. Pork decline is slowing, but is still seeing 220,000 fewer shoppers compared to last year. Roasting joints are behind the decline across the Red Meats. Whole bird Chicken volumes are also down, meaning Roasts overall are suffering.

Ward continued “Fresh and Processed Poultry continues to see solid growth into the first quarter of 2016”. Chicken and Turkey volumes are up, with increased trips a driver of growth in both. Primary Chicken has attracted 370,000 more shoppers and breasts are the key cut this year. With all demographic groups in growth, 622,000 more shoppers have bought breasts. In Processed Poultry, growth has again been driven by more shoppers buying the market more often, with over 320,000 additional shoppers compared to last year.

Bacon, Sausages and Burgers are all experiencing value and volume decline, with Bacon and Sausages having fewer shoppers and Burgers bought less often.

Will Red Meat and Processed Meats decline still be the main story in 4 weeks time, or will a new dynamic come to the fore in our next MFP release?