Red meat retail performance - 4 October 2026

Beef retail performance

Over the past 12 weeks, shoppers spent 1.6% more on beef than a year ago.

This was due to prices being 2.0% higher, as volumes purchased reduced by 0.4%¹

Sales of primary beef cuts were almost unchanged, down just 0.1% compared with last year.¹

Strong growth in steak sales (+7.9%) helped balance out declines in other cuts.¹

Nearly all steak cuts grew, with sirloin performing particularly well (+21.0%), attracting new shoppers alongside larger and more frequent purchases.¹

An increase in promotional activity also helped boost demand.¹

Processed beef continued to grow, with volumes up 4.5%.¹

Burgers (+10.2%) and sausages (+12.5%) were the main drivers of growth, attracting more shoppers during the period.¹

Good weather and increased promotions are likely to have supported demand.¹

Added-value beef products saw volume growth of 2.9%.¹

Marinades performed especially well, with volumes up 14.8%, more than making up for declines in ready-to-cook and sous vide products.¹

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

Lamb retail performance

Spend on lamb fell by 3.9% compared with last year.

Higher prices, up 8.0%, likely made lamb seem less affordable and helped drive an 11.0% reduction in the volumes bought.¹

Sales of primary lamb cuts fell by 14.0% over the 12-week period.¹

However, not all cuts were in decline.

Lamb mince volumes grew by 3.1% and stewing lamb increased by 18.2%.¹

Shoppers bought these products more often and in larger amounts.

For lamb mince, stronger promotional activity also helped increase demand.¹

Processed lamb volumes fell by 12.3% compared with last year.¹

Fewer shoppers bought processed lamb, and those who did bought it less often.¹

Added-value lamb volumes declined by 10.0%.¹

Although shoppers bought more sous vide lamb each time they purchased it, fewer people bought marinated and sous vide products.

This led to a reduction in total volumes sold.¹

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

Pig meat retail performance

Pig meat volumes reduced by 2.1% over the 12-week period, even though average prices rose by just 1.0%, the smallest increase across meat, fish and poultry.

As a result, spend on pig meat was down 1.1% compared with last year.¹

Despite the overall decline, primary pork volumes grew by 1.1%.¹

Belly (+10.7%), diced (+83.5%), mince (+13.6%) and steak (+2.8%) all saw increased demand.¹

More shoppers buying these cuts helped drive volume growth, attracted by lower prices and stronger promotions.¹

However, for mince, growth came from full-price purchases rather than promotions.¹

Processed pig meat volumes declined by 4.4%.¹

Bacon rashers (-8.1%) and sausages (-5.3%) were the main reasons for the decline, as fewer shoppers bought these products and those who did bought less each trip.¹

Although bacon prices reduced, this was not enough to increase demand, suggesting other factors, such as concerns about health and processed foods, may be affecting shopper choices.

Not all processed pig meat products were in decline.

Total gammon volumes grew, driven by small price increases and stronger promotions, especially Y for £X offers, which encouraged shoppers to buy more each trip.¹

Added-value pig meat volumes increased by 7.3% during the period.¹

Growth was driven by sous vide (+11.3%) and marinated products (+8.4%).¹

Both attracted more shoppers, who also bought larger amounts each trip.¹

Increased promotions, particularly multibuy offers, and the inclusion of sous vide products in meal deals, likely helped boost demand.¹

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

¹Worldpanel by Numerator UK, 12 w/e 4 October 2026

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