2025 ends with meat prices up almost 16% across the year 

Tony Goodger, head of communications at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), explained that December is traditionally the time when supermarkets compete for customers using beef and lamb roasting joints, and whilst beef rose slightly (0.71%), the average price of a whole leg of lamb fell by £1.16kg (7.46%) in November. 

“I also saw several supermarkets offering boneless legs of pork within their roasting joint Christmas mix this year, with the average price dropping 26p/kg on the previous month. With the exception of rump, none of the other beef steaks nor beef mince moved in price across December. 

“However, within lamb, steaks rose an average of 6.35% (+£1.19kg) and mince +1.29%, whilst in pork loin steaks, belly slices and chops all rose. Pork mince was unchanged versus November.” 

Mr Goodger added that with many consumers struggling to afford Christmas, it was not surprising that many have switched to chicken, with the price of a whole large British chicken rising up 4.22% due, in part, to the avian influenza outbreak. Also of note was the 39p/kg increase (4.47%) in chicken thigh fillets. 

READ MORE: Payments for vet visits will increase from January 2026

Predictions for 2026

AIMS confirmed that 2025 as a whole has been a year of sharp rises in the cost of food, but will this continue into 2026? 

Mr Goodger said: “Looking at the whole of 2025, meat and poultry prices rose by an average of 15.91%, with beef having the biggest impact, up by 32.26%, an average of £4.89p/kg, lamb and chicken (+8.94% and 7.64%, respectively) also surged ahead, while pork in the main was flat, up just 16p/kg across the cuts surveyed. 

“With also every price point surveyed exiting 2025 substantially higher than they entered the year, I believe that the watchword for 2026 will be ‘value’ with the supermarket and foodservice buyers looking to strategically use spot price deals from the global market as a means to lead promotional pricing and thus drive footfall and customer loyalty.” 

The expert added that it has been two-and-a-half years since the trade deal with Australia was signed, and looking at beef production down under, there is every indication that this has increased, with the high beef prices in the UK making us a desirable market for Aussie exporters. 

“It is of note that since September AIMS have been approached by Australian beef business, and State Agriculture Departments asking us to assist with market expansion in the UK”, Mr Goodger continued. 

“However, AIMS is not a facilitator for imports, and our focus during 2026 will be on assisting our broad base of processing businesses to realise export opportunities to the high-value markets within the Middle East and Asia as well as a smoother entry into Europe through less friction at the border. 

“It is my view, one which incidentally is shared by Waitrose in their 2026 food and drink report, that 2026 will be a good year for pork.”

Mr Goodger said he expects to see more pork steak cuts on menus in the out-of-home sector, and whereas in the past this has been limited to one pork dish, he believes that operators will introduce two or three ideas to menus. Pork tomahawks, for example, are already increasing in popularity.  

“As regards my wish for the new year, it is that the government get a grip on farm planning applications in order that investment can be made in modern efficient production systems in the pig, broiler, and egg sectors. It is only through an increased supply of high-quality British-produced pork, chicken, and eggs that we can maintain a profitable industry as well as countering imports from overseas lower-welfare production systems,” he concluded. 

READ MORE: Red Tractor sets out priorities to deliver improvements across farming sectors

Read more livestock news.