Record spending on fresh red meat signals robust UK Christmas trade
Consumer spending on fresh red meat in Great Britain surged to a record £656.2 million in the four weeks leading up to Christmas 2023, marking a significant 9.6% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from Nielsen.
This remarkable growth defied the challenges of price inflation, indicating a notable shift in household spending towards red meat products.
“The fresh red meat market in Great Britain experienced a gradual growth trend in the lead-up to Christmas, with a substantial surge in sales during the final week, accounting for approximately 35% of total sales over the four-week period,” notes Abby Tong, category specialist at QMS.
While price inflation played a central role in this marked growth in spend, increased volume sales also contributed, with a 2% year-on-year increase, reversing the decline seen at Christmas 2022.
Sausages, lamb, and beef were the top contributors to the overall volume increase, with lamb notably rebounding from a sales slump in 2022 with a year-on-year volume growth of 12%.
“It’s great to see lamb recovering from the impacts of price inflation and the perception that it is an expensive protein which had been dampening sales,” says Abby. “The outstanding performer within the fresh lamb category was the lamb leg.”
Quality Meat Scotland
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