Industry efficiency stabilises UK poultry prices

New statistics show that poultry prices in the UK have risen at the slowest rate of 29 different food categories, at around 1.8% a year on average, analysis by the British Poultry Council (BPC) shows.

Data from the Office for National Statistics revealed that since January 1987, poultry prices have risen by just 46.6% to December 2013. This compares to 186.4% for sweets and chocolate and 153.6% for soft drinks over the same period.

Poultry prices have also risen at a much slower rate when compared to alcoholic drinks, household goods, personal goods and services and fares and other travel costs over the same 26 year period.

Poultry is also cost-effective when compared to other meats. Beef, pork and fish have all more than doubled in price since 1987.

“Let’s be clear, this slow rate of growth is due to improved industry efficiencies over the past 26 years that have been passed on to consumers. It has nothing to do with supermarket price wars,” Andrew Large, BPC’s Chief Executive, commented.

“Poultry meat remains the best value meat for families in the UK. The UK poultry industry is committed to providing a wide range of tasty, nutritious and affordable products and offering consumers’ choice. We are proud that almost half the meat eaten in the UK is poultry and look forward to increasing our sales in 2014.”