A total rethink of UK egg marketing strategy has been called for by Richard Langdon, marketing manager with Stonegate Thames Valley.
The industry needed to take on board lessons from other sectors, he said.
"Pasta is no more convenient than eggs. We must lead egg consumers to be inspired," he told delegates at the British Egg Industry Council's annual conference in Birmingham.
He said that producers had to cut production costs further while adding product value.
"At Stonegate, we see ourselves as a food company, not an egg company. All involved in the industry must think like this."
n shooting up
For the first time in a decade, EU intervention butter stocks broke through the 200,000 tonne level last week.
During March, EU butter manufacturers offered into intervention 6,800 tonnes of product.
Although the total current stock, which represents just over 40 days' average consumption across the EU, is growing more slowly than at the same time last year, it still represents a problem for the EU authorities as there are few outlets available which do not disrupt normal markets.
Last week also saw the first offers into intervention of UK butter so far this year, although the quantity (386 tonnes) was modest.
n salmon in court
With new pack Alaskan salmon packing only a few weeks away, attention is focused on the court case taking place in Anchorage.
Fishermen are claiming compensation from the processors over alleged price fixing which, they say, cost them millions in lost revenue.
Processors counter the claim with the argument that it was the growth of farmed salmon which caused the price decline.
The case is likely to go on for some months, but if the processors lose, the effect on the industry will be severe, according to sources in Seattle who speak for the canners.
Other than pink 418g, there will be no carryover stocks, so expectations of higher prices are voiced in Seattle by packers who no longer have other profitable lines, such as crab or ground fish, to subsidise the volatile salmon pack.
n imports down
Imports of dairy products were down 5% in 2002 compared with the previous year. Only 750,000 tonnes of product was imported at a cost of £1,070m.
At the same time, the industry boosted exports by 13% to 515,000 tonnes for a total value of £527m.
This meant the net balance of dairy imports and exports fell slightly from a deficit of £560m to £540m.
The main changes in 2002 affected trade with non-EU countries where imports into the UK fell in value by nearly 10% and exports from the UK by about 9%.
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The industry needed to take on board lessons from other sectors, he said.
"Pasta is no more convenient than eggs. We must lead egg consumers to be inspired," he told delegates at the British Egg Industry Council's annual conference in Birmingham.
He said that producers had to cut production costs further while adding product value.
"At Stonegate, we see ourselves as a food company, not an egg company. All involved in the industry must think like this."
n shooting up
For the first time in a decade, EU intervention butter stocks broke through the 200,000 tonne level last week.
During March, EU butter manufacturers offered into intervention 6,800 tonnes of product.
Although the total current stock, which represents just over 40 days' average consumption across the EU, is growing more slowly than at the same time last year, it still represents a problem for the EU authorities as there are few outlets available which do not disrupt normal markets.
Last week also saw the first offers into intervention of UK butter so far this year, although the quantity (386 tonnes) was modest.
n salmon in court
With new pack Alaskan salmon packing only a few weeks away, attention is focused on the court case taking place in Anchorage.
Fishermen are claiming compensation from the processors over alleged price fixing which, they say, cost them millions in lost revenue.
Processors counter the claim with the argument that it was the growth of farmed salmon which caused the price decline.
The case is likely to go on for some months, but if the processors lose, the effect on the industry will be severe, according to sources in Seattle who speak for the canners.
Other than pink 418g, there will be no carryover stocks, so expectations of higher prices are voiced in Seattle by packers who no longer have other profitable lines, such as crab or ground fish, to subsidise the volatile salmon pack.
n imports down
Imports of dairy products were down 5% in 2002 compared with the previous year. Only 750,000 tonnes of product was imported at a cost of £1,070m.
At the same time, the industry boosted exports by 13% to 515,000 tonnes for a total value of £527m.
This meant the net balance of dairy imports and exports fell slightly from a deficit of £560m to £540m.
The main changes in 2002 affected trade with non-EU countries where imports into the UK fell in value by nearly 10% and exports from the UK by about 9%.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
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