Tesco has come under fire from the farming community for not going far enough to support the British lamb industry at the peak of this year's season.
New figures from Eblex reveal that in October only 80% of Tesco's lamb facings were identified as being of English, Scottish or Welsh origin. By contrast Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, M&S, Lidl and Budgens' lamb were all shown to stock 100% British-sourced meat. The survey was carried out at the peak of the British lamb season, during which there were plentiful supplies of British lamb available to the retail sector, according to AHDB Meat Services.
Tesco defended its support for the British lamb farming sector by arguing that it purchased much higher volumes than anyone else. "No other retailer stocks and sells nearly as much British lamb as Tesco and no other retailer is a bigger supporter of British lamb farmers than us," said a spokesman. Due to the volumes of lamb it sells, it sometimes had to source from abroad, he added. "There will be occasions when the supply simply won't match the demand," he claimed.
The National Sheep Association and NFU expressed surprise at the retailer's position. Although it would not expect retailers to source British for 12 months of the year, "at peak season it shouldn't be an issue and it's disappointing", said National Sheep Association chief executive Peter Morris.
The NFU praised those retailers who sourced 100% British lamb, but expressed disappointment at those who had not achieved it. The survey revealed that 93% of Asda and The Co-operative's facings were British, while Somerfield stocked just 55%.
"We would expect to see all the retailers sourcing British as there's plentiful supply," said John Mercer, the NFU's chief livestock adviser.
The NSA also called on Tesco to show a greater commitment to the national flock, which it added would show a significant decline in numbers this year.
New figures from Eblex reveal that in October only 80% of Tesco's lamb facings were identified as being of English, Scottish or Welsh origin. By contrast Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, M&S, Lidl and Budgens' lamb were all shown to stock 100% British-sourced meat. The survey was carried out at the peak of the British lamb season, during which there were plentiful supplies of British lamb available to the retail sector, according to AHDB Meat Services.
Tesco defended its support for the British lamb farming sector by arguing that it purchased much higher volumes than anyone else. "No other retailer stocks and sells nearly as much British lamb as Tesco and no other retailer is a bigger supporter of British lamb farmers than us," said a spokesman. Due to the volumes of lamb it sells, it sometimes had to source from abroad, he added. "There will be occasions when the supply simply won't match the demand," he claimed.
The National Sheep Association and NFU expressed surprise at the retailer's position. Although it would not expect retailers to source British for 12 months of the year, "at peak season it shouldn't be an issue and it's disappointing", said National Sheep Association chief executive Peter Morris.
The NFU praised those retailers who sourced 100% British lamb, but expressed disappointment at those who had not achieved it. The survey revealed that 93% of Asda and The Co-operative's facings were British, while Somerfield stocked just 55%.
"We would expect to see all the retailers sourcing British as there's plentiful supply," said John Mercer, the NFU's chief livestock adviser.
The NSA also called on Tesco to show a greater commitment to the national flock, which it added would show a significant decline in numbers this year.
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