Mutton returns to shelves Mutton is back in the retail carcase meat market, a move by Tesco intended mainly to demonstrate the multiple's commitment to helping its hard pressed livestock suppliers. On Monday 200 stores began selling 500g packs of Tesco Value mutton mince at £1.79. Red meat category manager Steve Murrells said the company hoped the relaunch would "bring an old British favourite back onto the menu" and emphasised the potential consumer appeal of mutton as a lean, tasty meat. The initiative prompted praise from producers' leader John Thorley and MLC sheep strategy head David Croston. Tesco sources made clear the main objective was to raise a little extra cash for farmers who had seen some livestock prices collapse. Live lamb prices are weak, but the real crisis in the sheep sector involves ewes which have become worthless because farmers held on to breeding stock too long rather than sell during the previous market shakeout in late 1998. {{MEAT }}

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