Meat sales rise in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's total meat sales rose by six percent over the Christmas period to almost £80 million, according to a new market report.

The growth occurred during the 12 weeks to 31 December 2017, according to market research specialist Kantar and was a significant rise on the same period the previous year. Total retail meat sales in Northern Ireland were valued at £75.1 million

Red meat sales in Northern Ireland during the 12-week period were valued at £34 million, a four percent rise over the same period in 2016.

Red meat sales also accounted for 43 percent of total meat sales in value during the 2017 period. This proportion was unchanged from year earlier levels. Total beef sales in Northern Ireland during the last 12 weeks of 2017 were valued at £28.5 million, a two percent increase from the corresponding period in 2016 when beef sales were worth £27.9 million.

Lamb sales were valued at £5.5 million during the 12 weeks ending 31 December 2017, a 16.5 percent rise on the same period in 2016 when lamb sales were valued at £4.7 million.

Lamb sales during the 12 weeks totalled 746 tonnes, a 6.3 percent rise from the 701 tonnes sold during the corresponding period the previous year. With the volume of beef sales remaining fairly stable in during the last 12 weeks of 2017 the increase in the total value of beef sales has been driven by an increase in the price per kg.

During the 12 weeks ending 31 December 2017 the volume of meat sales in Northern Ireland totalled 13,361 tonnes. This was a one percent increase from year earlier levels when the volume of meat sales totalled 13,218 tonnes.

The total volume of red meat sales during the 2017 period totalled 4,450 tonnes, back almost one percent from year earlier levels when beef sales totalled 4,485 tonnes.

The volume of beef sales totalled 3,704 tonnes during the 2017 period, back two per cent from year earlier levels when 3,783 tonnes of beef were purchased by Northern Ireland consumers.