The latest AHDB Porkwatch survey revealed a consistent level of retail support for British pork towards the end of 2024. The survey, which covered 10 retailers in November, showed that 88% of the pork on display was British, compared to 87% in September and 89% in November 2023. Among the retailers surveyed, Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s all recorded a 100% British pork display, with Waitrose at 96% including 100% British on their own brand. Tesco stood at 78% British, Asda at 59% (down from 68% a year ago), and Iceland at just 1%.

In terms of bacon, 55% of the displayed bacon was British, slightly up from September and the previous year. Co-op and M&S had 100% British bacon, while Waitrose had 94%. On the other end of the spectrum, Tesco only stocked 36% British bacon, with Asda at 26%, Aldi at 21%, Lidl at 17%, and Iceland at 14%.

The overall ham figure was 61%, consistent with September but lower than November 2023. M&S led with 99% British ham, followed by Co-op at 95% and Waitrose at 90%. Morrisons, Asda, and Lidl were the worst performers with 38%, 33%, and 13% respectively.

For sausages, 78% were British overall, in line with September and slightly higher than the previous year. M&S led with 99% British sausages, followed by Aldi at 98%, Waitrose at 97%, and Lidl at 90%. Iceland had the lowest percentage at 44%, while all other retailers stocked at least 69% British sausages.

Retail pigmeat volumes saw a 2.9% decrease in the 12 weeks leading up to December 1, 2024, amounting to 6,227 tonnes less than the same period in 2023 according to Kantar data summarized by AHDB. Despite a slight increase in average prices (+1.2%), spend on pigmeat declined by 1.8% year-on-year, with pork being the only red meat to experience a decline.

Processed pigmeat volumes drove this decline, with a 4.6% decrease in volumes purchased year-on-year. Primary cuts, where British pigmeat is strongest, saw a 1.1% increase in volumes purchased, aided by a 0.6% decrease in average prices paid year-on-year.

Roasting volumes were up 5.8% over the period, driven by increases in leg (8.7%) and loin (20.3%) sales. All roasting categories saw a decrease in average prices during this period, with promotional activity boosting performance, particularly for loin and pork ribs.

Added value volumes saw a 13.1% increase, driven by sous vide (+12.2%) and increased promotional activity for marinades attracting new shoppers. Ready to cook products also saw a 1.9% increase, benefiting from increased frequency of purchase and volumes purchased per shopping trip.

Overall, the AHDB Porkwatch survey highlights the continued support for British pork in retail outlets towards the end of 2024. Retailers like Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s have shown strong backing for British pork, while there is room for improvement for others such as Tesco, Asda, and Iceland. The data also indicates trends in consumer preferences and purchasing behavior, providing valuable insights for the pork industry moving forward.