Food & Drink

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, supermarket own-label products are performing well in both red meat and dairy sectors, while most branded items are struggling with falling demand, AHDB analysis has shown.

A new campaign launched by Riverford Organic Farmers is seeking fair treatment for fruit and vegetable producers, citing that 49% fear closure within the next 12 months as a result of supermarket buying behaviour.

As of July, primary pork products including steaks, roasting joints and mince, have been knocked off the best-performing red meat spot as consumers opt for more affordable proteins in an attempt to save money.

AHDB’s We Eat Balanced campaign will be promoting home-grown meat and dairy using the term ‘British’ for the first time, following a rule change that will allow the organisation to better showcase support to UK farmers.

Over 100 MPs have signed a letter urging supermarkets to incorporate ‘Buy British’ sections on their online shops.

Meat alternatives brand Beyond Meat has seen its sales decline by nearly a third in the second quarter of 2023, as consumers opt for more affordable animal protein and the health credentials of plant-based meat are called into question by many.

Building on last year’s success, AHDB and UK exporters travelled to the Philippines to showcase the qualities of British pork and beef at the World Food Expo (WOFEX), meet key stakeholders and cultivate new business opportunities in the Asian market.

A new report by the Efra Select Committee has accused the government of failing to take food security seriously enough, and urged it to change its definition to include affordability and access to food.

South London-based Gypsy Hill has become the first brewery in the world to create carbon negative beer without offsetting emissions by combining innovative brewing techniques with barley grown using regenerative farming methods.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis still impacting household finances, recent AHDB research has uncovered that consumers are willing to treat themselves in-home as a cheaper alternative to eating out, which presents an opportunity for some premium meat products.

On Wednesday 28th June, 3,000 children from 60 Essex primary schools took part in the fifteenth Essex Schools Food and Farming Day.

Latest consumer research conducted by the AHDB has revealed promising opportunities for British beef and lamb exporters in the Middle East, where quality and halal assurance were key drivers of consumer buying behaviour.