The British Meat Processors Association has called for a “beef summit” to combat what it described as different parts of the supply chain “sniping” at one another.
It was reacting to comments made by NFU VP Stuart Roberts last week, which the BMPA said had “disappointed” meat processors.
Roberts had called out “certain parts of the supply chain” for “not pulling their weight” and promoting British beef enough.
He added, “we are urging processors to take a leaf out of the dairy industry’s book and put their support behind a concerted marketing and promotion programme in partnership with AHDB”, and suggested this could be achieved by a processor commitment to “match AHDB’s levy investment pound for pound”.
It comes less than a month after the NFU warned prices had hit a “three-year low”, with the average deadweight steer price in July down 11.4% compared to June 2018.
In a statement, the BMPA said “everyone” in the supply chain should come together for a meeting “or even a beef summit” because the challenges facing beef can only be addressed “if the whole supply chain works together”.
The BMPA said the current processor contribution towards meat levies equated to approximately £6m, which equalled the amount AHDB currently puts towards marketing.
It also stated any new marketing push would have to include retailers and the foodservice sector because support at store level “would magnify industry marketing spend and deliver more value for money for levy payers”.
Responding to the BMPA’s comments, the NFU agreed the industry ought to come together.
“The NFU will continue to work with the BMPA to consider ways to address the issues faced by the red meat supply chain. We can both agree that we need to work together to ensure a unified and proactive approach to promotion and defending the industry,” said chief livestock advisor John Royle.
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