Red meat retail performance - 23 March 2025

Beef retail performance

Spend on beef products increased by 4.4% year-on-year, due to a 5.2% increase in average prices paid as volumes purchased decreased by 0.8% (Kantar, 12 w/e 23 March 2025).

Total primary beef volumes saw a 0.3% decrease this period. Despite this, not all primary cuts were in decline. Mince saw a 1.8% increase in volumes purchased (+641 tonnes), primarily due to an increase frequency of purchase. Diced beef saw volume growth this period (+14.6%) due to an increase in shopper numbers, as well as an increase in frequency of purchase. Steak also saw volume growth, up 0.6% year-on-year, driven by an increase in frequency of purchase.

Processed beef saw a 0.8% increase in volumes purchased year-on-year. Burgers and grills saw a 0.8% increase in volumes purchased due to an increase in frequency of purchase and an increase in shopper numbers. Beef sausages also saw volume growth (+19.3%), with an additional 101 tonnes purchased.

Total added-value products saw a 2.1% increase in volumes purchased this period, driven by marinade performance (+12.1%) which benefitted from an increase in shopper numbers year-on-year.

See the full data and these insights visualised on our GB household beef purchases retail dashboard.

Lamb retail performance

Lamb saw a 16.9% decrease in volumes purchased year-on-year in the 12 w/e 23 March 2025. This sharp decrease is due to Easter falling earlier last year. Spend also saw a 12.7% decrease during the period, despite a 5.0% increase in average prices paid (Kantar,12 w/e 23 March 2025).

Primary lamb saw a 24.5% decrease in volumes purchased this period. However, not all primary cuts were in decline this period. Diced saw volume growth (32.6%), due to an increase in volumes purchased per buyer and an increase in shopper numbers. Steak also saw volume growth (9.1%) due to an increase in volumes purchased per shopper and an increase in shopper numbers. However, these increases were not enough to offset declines by other cuts.

Processed lamb saw a 6.8% decline in volumes purchased in the 12 w/e 23 March 2025, with burgers and grills driving the decline (-7.2%) due to decreased shopper numbers and volumes purchased per shopper.

For added-value products, there was a 12.2% decrease in volumes purchased, with both marinades (-32.7%) and sous vide (-8.2%) in decline.

See the full data and these insights visualised on our GB household lamb purchases retail dashboard.

Pig meat retail performance

Pig meat saw a 0.3% increase in volumes purchased, equivalent to 554 tonnes more than the same period last year (Kantar, 12 w/e 23 March 2025). Spend on pig meat increased by 1.5% year-on-year and there was a 1.2% increase in average prices paid.

Processed pig meat saw a 0.4% decrease in volumes purchased in this period. However, sausages (+4.2%) saw volume grown due to increased volumes purchased per buyer. Total gammon also saw volumes purchased increase by 0.4% driven by an increase in volumes purchased per buyer, likely helped by increased promotional activity during the period.

Primary cuts saw volumes purchased increase 1.0% this period. Belly saw a 1.2% increase in volumes purchased due to an increase in buyers this period. Mince saw a 3.9% volume increase during the period.

Total roasting saw a 3.4% increase in volumes purchased, driven by leg roasting (+18.1%) and shoulder roasting (+2.2%) performance. Leg roasting saw an increase in shopper numbers during the period, likely helped by a decrease in the average prices paid due to an increase in promotional activity year-on-year.

Added value also saw overall volume purchased increase 2.6%. Marinades saw volumes increase by 30.7%, while sous vide saw volumes increase 1.0%.

See the full data and these insights visualised on our GB household pork purchases retail dashboard.

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