Gap widens in share of lamb price

Retailers are charging consumers a 60% mark-up on key lamb cuts despite the price being paid to farmers falling markedly in the last two weeks, said IFA sheep chairman John Lynskey.

An IFA lamb price survey of the five main supermarkets shows that retailers are charging consumers from €10 to €16/kg for the key lamb cuts, while the farmer price has fallen from €5.50/kg to €4.70/kg in recent weeks.

Some factories are quoting €4.50/kg, which is now below the cost of production.