Turkey prices in the major multiples have risen by up to 30%, The Grocer can reveal.
According to analysis by The Grocer using Assosia data, more than half of all frozen turkey lines in supermarkets are outpacing general inflation, while preorders of fresh turkeys are seeing double-digit price hikes.
The biggest price increases are on Tesco’s premium crowns, with both its Finest Free-Range Bronze Turkey Crown in small and large formats up 27.8% from £18 per kilo to £23 per kilo this year [Assosia 52 w/e 4 November].
The next biggest rise is in Morrisons’ The Best Turkey Crown with Pork, Sage & Red Onion Stuffing, up from £20 per kilo to £25 per kilo – an increase of 25% in a year.
Ocado has also increased the price of its KellyBronze Free Range Extra Large Turkey by more than 20%.
In frozen lines, the price of Tesco Frozen Mini Turkey Crown has increased 11.1% versus last year. Morrisons’ Frozen Medium Whole Basted Turkey and Frozen Large Turkey Crown are up 10% and 8.3% respectively.
Tesco said the rises did not reflect the price shoppers could get with a Clubcard, and that the full range of offers was not available yet.
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Paul Kelly of Kelly Turkeys attributed price hikes to “retailers [being] fed up of not making a profit on the Christmas sales and selling at cost or even below cost”.
In addition, turkey farmers had seen significant inflation “predominantly from massive increase in employers’ National Insurance”, he added.
Andrew Opie, director of food & sustainability at the BRC, said: “Inflationary pressures on food producers mean some products have increased in price.
“Nonetheless, retailers are investing into value to reduce the impact to customers as much as possible while still paying suppliers a fair price.”
Bird flu could also further threaten supply with a regional housing order put in place earlier than normal this year over concerns that it could be a particularly bad season. There is also pressure to impose a national housing order from the sector to further protect birds.
“If the outbreaks increase at the same rate as the last few days, I am sure there will be a housing order for all poultry,” said Kelly.
While biosecurity will go some way to protect supply, it is “impossible to eliminate risk” entirely.
“We are in the lap of the gods,” he said. “A scary situation.”
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