Forster, speaking at a red meat conference, listed the arguments he believed could persuade the multiples to buy home-killed beef. “It’s impossible to import more beef without reducing quality and assurance standards. And retailers using home-produced beef are less likely to be embarrassed by empty shelves.
“Brazilian beef relies on the destruction of rainforest and use of GM soya in feed. The Argentinian beef price is low because of indefensible low wages.” He added: “Supermarkets
will have to pay more for British beef to ensure they are seen as socially and environmentally responsible. Are retailers prepared to bluff customers into thinking competitively priced Argentinian or Brazilian beef has the same production qualities as our own?”
But NFU head of food and farming Robin Tapper said producers should stop criticising retailers in public.
“You do not slag off your customer,” he said. “You work with your customer. British Rail, British Airways and the Royal Mail have all disregarded their customers and look at the mess they are in now. Do we want to be associated with them?”
Tapper said he was “fed up” with farmers talking about the threat of imported meat. “Talking about imports like that, we are virtually telling the retailers to go elsewhere,” he argued.
Asda agriculture development manager Chris Brown insisted the multiple was committed to British meat, even though product could be bought 40% cheaper from abroad. “We have suppliers with investments in the UK, so the systems are in place and we have no need to source more from overseas.”
Richard Clarke National Beef Association boss Robert Forster has urged farmers to bombard retailers with “unfavourable comparisons” between British and imported meat.
“Brazilian beef relies on the destruction of rainforest and use of GM soya in feed. The Argentinian beef price is low because of indefensible low wages.” He added: “Supermarkets
will have to pay more for British beef to ensure they are seen as socially and environmentally responsible. Are retailers prepared to bluff customers into thinking competitively priced Argentinian or Brazilian beef has the same production qualities as our own?”
But NFU head of food and farming Robin Tapper said producers should stop criticising retailers in public.
“You do not slag off your customer,” he said. “You work with your customer. British Rail, British Airways and the Royal Mail have all disregarded their customers and look at the mess they are in now. Do we want to be associated with them?”
Tapper said he was “fed up” with farmers talking about the threat of imported meat. “Talking about imports like that, we are virtually telling the retailers to go elsewhere,” he argued.
Asda agriculture development manager Chris Brown insisted the multiple was committed to British meat, even though product could be bought 40% cheaper from abroad. “We have suppliers with investments in the UK, so the systems are in place and we have no need to source more from overseas.”
Richard Clarke National Beef Association boss Robert Forster has urged farmers to bombard retailers with “unfavourable comparisons” between British and imported meat.
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