Red meat retail performance – 22 March 2026

Beef retail performance

Over the past 12 weeks, spend increased 8.8%, driven by average price rises of 16.4%, resulting in volume declines of 6.5%.¹

Primary beef volumes saw an 9.1% decrease, with all cuts in decline. Mince saw the greatest actual decline (-2,988 tonnes), a volume reduction of 8.2% year-on-year. This was driven by a decrease in buyers and a reduction in volumes per buyer, due to the 27.3% average price increase.

Total processed beef saw an 6.8% decline in volume purchased year-on-year. Burgers and grills drove this decline with -870 t (-7.7%) driven by a decrease in buyers.

Total added-value products saw a volume decrease of 0.6% this period. Sous vide saw a 1.9% increase due to an increase in volumes per trip but this was not enough to offset declines in ready-to-cook and marinades.

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

Lamb retail performance

Lamb retail products saw a 1.7% decrease in volumes purchased, accompanied by a 9.2% increase in spend year-on-year. Average prices paid increased by 11.0%.¹

Total primary lamb cuts saw an 1.9% volume decrease during the 12-week period. Lamb leg roasting saw the largest increase of 4.9% (+114 t) driven by an increase in buyers and volumes purchased per trip.

Processed lamb saw a 1.8% decrease in volumes year-on-year, this decline was driven by grills which had a decrease in buyers.

Total added value lamb saw a 0.9% increase in volumes year-on-year. Marinades saw the largest increase of 9.9% due to a decrease in frequency of purchase.

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

Pig meat retail performance

Pig meat products saw a 2.3% decrease in volumes purchased, a 0.6% decrease in spend and a 1.7% increase in average prices paid.¹

Primary pig meat saw volume increases of 1.1% this period. Roasting saw increases of 2.2% driven by an increase in volumes purchased per shopping trip.

Mince saw the largest volume increase of 39.3% (1,644 t) driven by an increase in buyers and frequency of purchase.

Processed pig meat saw a decrease of 4.3% over the 12-week period. Total gammon saw a 8.6% increase in volumes purchased driven by an increase in number of buyers.

These increases were not enough to offset declines seen in other processed pig meat products.

Total added value products saw an 16.8% increase in volumes this period. This was driven by sous vide which saw a 22.2% increase in volumes purchased, as a result of an increased number of buyers.

Ready-to-cook also saw large volume increases of 40.4%, driven by an increase in number of buyers and increased volumes purchased per trip.

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

¹ Worldpanel by Numerator UK, 12 w/e 22 March 2026

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