‘Big four' supermarkets accused of failing to back British farmers

Telegraph

3 hours ago

Supermarkets have been accused of failing to back British farmers after trade deals triggered a surge in imports of meat from Australia and New Zealand.
Livestock farmers said the 'big four' retailers are putting them at a disadvantage by selling imported beef and lamb alongside British produce at a time when the domestic agriculture industry is struggling.
David Barton, a Cotswolds-based beef farmer and chairman of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) livestock board, said: 'It is disappointing, because what we're looking for as an industry is to grow production. We need confidence, and when supermarkets start messing around like this, it really doesn't fill us with confidence.'
Most of the major supermarkets have made commitments to selling British beef and supporting domestic farmers. However, customers and farmers alike have noticed that meat from much further afield has begun appearing more frequently on shelves.
Examples include a New Zealand-sourced Wagyu burger in Sainsbury's, Australian and New Zealand beef products in Morrisons, and a Uruguayan steak sold in Asda.
After spotting a steak listing its sourcing as 'Australian or British', the Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron posted on X: 'This is appalling from Morrisons. They seek kudos for their UK sourcing but then sneakily do this, undermining British farmers and undermining their own integrity and brand.'
Tesco also sells 300g lamb leg steaks that are 'produced in the UK or New Zealand'. A person familiar with the situation said the supermarket had not changed its sourcing policy.
The outcry comes in the wake of British trade deals signed with Australia and New Zealand after Brexit, which have led to a surge in imports of meat from the two countries.
Imports of fresh, chilled and frozen beef from Australia and New Zealand soared in 2024 after the trade deals came into effect.
Meanwhile, imports of lamb from the two countries – which already supplied a significant proportion of the UK market – rose by 87pc and 26pc, respectively, last year.
Neil Shand, the chief executive of the National Beef Association (NBA), said: 'We are not self sufficient on beef, so we have to accept imported beef into the UK every year to a degree. And as our self sufficiency drops and our food security weakens, we're having to accept more.
'What I don't like is when retailers put it on a shelf at a far reduced price from ours. If you price something at a cheaper price, you'll drive growth in that area, and it will have an even deeper impact on British production.'
Supermarkets are currently embroiled in a price war as they battle to defend their market share at a time when living costs are putting pressure on consumers. British farmers are grappling with a cattle shortage that has pushed the price of beef to record highs this year.
Sarah Godwin, a dairy and egg farmer, said: 'Partly cost has led supermarkets to look in other directions, but I think they were always being encouraged to do so now with these trade deals.'
Mr Barton said: 'If we don't give the UK producer the confidence to continue to produce and produce more, the situation just gets worse and worse. To have a secure supply chain, it's better to start at home and make sure you look after that.'
Andrew Opie, of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said: 'Given the pressure on British farmers at the moment, retailers are paying more for their produce.
'However, retailers are also facing additional costs and are working incredibly hard to limit price increases for consumers where many are struggling to afford the essentials.'
Jake Pickering, of Waitrose, said it was 'sad to see other supermarkets shift away from home grown beef' and that it had 'no intention of following suit'.
Discount retailer Lidl reaffirmed a commitment to British beef this week, saying it would not import or switch sourcing to any suppliers outside of the country.
An Asda spokesman said: 'We always look to offer customers a wide choice of products to suit all budgets. These steaks were provided by a branded partner and were available in our stores for a limited time only. All of Asda's own brand fresh beef continues to be sourced from farms in the UK and Republic of Ireland.'
A Morrisons spokesman said: 'Morrisons remains 100pc British on all our meat counters. In our aisles - alongside our New Zealand lamb - we are introducing trials of some imported meat from trusted suppliers to help us offer outstanding value through the seasons and through any supply fluctuations.'
A Sainsbury's spokesman said: 'We offer two summer premium Wagyu products from New Zealand, which make up just 0.1pc of our total beef range.
'We have an unwavering, long-term commitment to British farming and this has zero impact on our approach or existing partnerships. The country of origin is also clearly labelled to ensure our customers can make informed choices when they shop with us.'
While imports from Australia and New Zealand have risen, most supermarkets have ruled out allowing American beef to be sold in Britain amid concerns over standards, despite Sir Keir Starmer agreeing a trade deal with the US earlier this year.