Latest meat inflation report raises calls for assistance ahead Autumn Budget

Tony Goodger, head of communications at AIMS, explained that it is way too soon for anyone to say that meat inflation is being brought under control, but it appears that shoppers who have spread their baskets across several stores have found lower prices in the protein category.

“Add to this that October is generally a month when supermarkets lower prices in order to help household budgeting ahead of Christmas whilst also hoping that this will attract consumer loyalty when the festive buying season begins.

“However, it is the annual rate of meat and poultry inflation which continues to be around the 15% mark, and, with the exception of pork, which is 6p/kg cheaper across the cuts surveyed year on year, the three other categories are significantly more expensive than they were in October 2024,” he added.

Mr Goodger said that unsurprisingly, given the continued demand for beef within a market facing supply chain challenges, year-on-year price increases have averaged 32.3%, with lamb up 7.4% and chicken up 7%.

Calls to remove unnecessary financial burdens

With the Autumn Budget announcement due at the end of November, AIMS said it would like to see the chancellor take action that will not just bring down meat and poultry inflation but also contribute to the government’s growth agenda.

“These include removing many of the unnecessary financial burdens which are inhibiting growth which have been imposed on the meat industry by the FSA and also the immediate adoption of the SPS agreement with the EU to reduce the cost to businesses of trading with the EU,” Mr Goodger continued.

He added that in regards to growth, the government’s wish to back the builders, not the blockers, has the full support of AIMS.

“Given that farming and food processing is part of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure and is also a driver for economic growth through exports, it is time that planning decisions for on-farm and food processing sites to be made in Westminster and not at a local level.

“This would remove the huge administrative costs that local authorities experience from the mass ideologically led protests from the anti-farming lobby and their locally based hangers-on.

“Finally, we’d like to see the chancellor commit to a meat and poultry tech investment fund funded 50/50 by government and industry to drive growth, improve efficiency, and support food security.”

“AIMS believes that a joint government-meat industry strategy based on our four asks for the budget will unlock the UK’s growth potential in our sector through a combination of reducing unnecessary cost burdens and provide businesses with the confidence to invest,” the expert concluded.

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