IFA calls on Tesco to pass back realistic prices to producers

RETAIL giant Tesco has come under direct fire from the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) for repeatedly ignoring its calls for a greater share of profits from consumer goods sales.

IFA president John Bryan has accused Tesco of dismissing the concerns of primary producers by claiming that retailers have no responsibility for losses made by farmers. The farm group leader said this stance was aggravating farmers, especially given the “superprofits” being reported by the retail chain.

John Bryan said: “This crystallises the fundamental problem where the multiples continue to pillage massive profits out of the food supply chain at the expense of primary producers. Pig producers are getting less than 20% of the consumer price for pork and bacon. This is intolerable when the multiples are reporting super-profits and producers are being forced out of business with poor prices.”