Since the begining of the year the discrepancy between Irish and British beef has more than doubled despite a recent improvement in factory quotes.
The Bord Bia Beef Market Tracking service reports that the disparity between Irish and Beef prices has grown from 35c/kg in January to 74c/kg this month due to growing demand in the UK.
ICSA beef chair Edmund Graham described the growing differential as a “rip-off of beef farmers” by factories.
This week factories have battled to secure tight cattle supplies resulting in base quotes for steers and heifers reaching €4/kg. Whereas, in Britain, the re-opening of hospitality has led to beef prices have reaching the equivalent of €5/kg.
“The re-opening of the UK food service and catering sector means that there is no more room for excuses. This is why I am insisting that beef factory bosses should give an explanation why our prices are so far behind the UK prices at a time of rocketing demand,” said Mr Graham.
“Factory arguments about access to the UK retail trade cannot explain the extraordinary chasm,” he added.
Meat Industry Ireland (MII) claims three UK supermarket chains – Sainsburys, Tesco and Asda – take Irish beef. Irish beef exports are also used in the food service sectors.
MII also said that highest UK prices were paid for Red Tractor label, home produced cattle.
LSL News.