Home beef sales increase by 10%
The increase in the preference for beef outstripped improvements for poultry, lamb and pig meat, according to the latest figures available from Taylor Nelson Sofres for the year to December 2003.
Bord Bia says that overall there was a 5% increase in combined sales of beef, lamb pigmeat and poultry with the volume of meat purchased by households increasing to 104 kg, while penetration was high with 99% of all households buying meat.
Beef sales topped the league on performance, with 48,000 tonnes being purchased and 92% of all households buying beef, which was also the highest take-up for any of the four popular meats. Beef accounted for almost 40% of total meat purchases in volume. Sales of beef increased in all regions, with the strongest growth recorded in Munster at 15% higher than for 2002. Sales in the Leinster region increased by 8% and there was a 5% increase in the Connacht/Ulster region.
Sales of lamb reversed the downward trend with growth of 6%, reflecting the growing importance of the home market to the sheep sector. Householders increased their average purchase, but the penetration was slightly down with two-thirds of households purchasing lamb. Volume sales dropped in the Munster region and increased in all other regions. The largest increase was recorded in Dublin. Sales increased by 40%. Sales of pigmeat remained static, with a 3% increase in sausage sales offset by a 2% decline in pork sales.
