-8.9%

Butchery

Market News

Butter & Cream:

Butter prices have increased by over 10% in the last month. This is driven by increases in cream prices from Europe due to the low milk volumes in Germany in particular. Currently producers are favouring making cream rather than butter

due to higher returns. This is forcing butter prices to rise.

In addition to this, some producers are now starting to hold back stocks in expectation that it could be worth more in the coming weeks and months. This potentially limits availability which adds further pressure.

Egg prices:

Egg prices remain high, compared to previous years and up 40% in the last 12 months alone. The commitment by major supermarkets to move to Free Range Eggs only by 2025 has put real pressure onto the industry and has forced a race against time for factories and farms to gear up to this style of production.

The various input costs (predominantly feed and energy) which rose during the early stages of the Ukraine war, led to higher prices which are yet to come down.

There have long been conversations about whether eggs are effectively ‘under-priced’ with retailers in particular coming under pressure about whether fair prices are paid to farmers.

Oil Prices

Rapeseed, soya, sunflower and palm oil are all down year-on-year following their excessive high pricing last year. The market appears steady currently, with prices fluctuating in a relatively normal range. A lack of oilseed from Ukraine caused a market spike earlier this year. This has eased and increased availability of other oils such as palm has added further pressure into the overall mix.

Of course, many of these oils are significant contributors to certain manufactured products such as mayonnaise and spreads, so thankfully this should provide some stability for caterers.

Potatoes



Many parts of the UK have recently experienced prolonged spells of wet weather. Unfortunately, this has had a detrimental effect on the supply

of ware potatoes. In some areas, much of this season's crop is still in the ground and will not be harvested due to the ground conditions.

Herefordshire has been one of the lucky counties where the majority of this season's harvest has been lifted and is already in store. Almost 90% of the local potatoes are grown under contract for the chipping and crisp

industry, which doesn’t leave much for free trade sale!

Some of this season's harvested crop are already showing signs of breakdown due to the excessive water content. Chipping & roasting

potatoes are commanding extremely high prices and will do so for the foreseeable future.

• Wild Bass from trawled and netted fisheries are now 3 rated – the same as line caught.

• Red mullet has gone from a 5 – fish to avoid – to a 3.

• North Sea cold water prawns are now 5 rated from specific areas.

• Cod that is trawl caught from Iceland and Norway has been downgraded to a 3 and 4 respectively.

• Dover soles that have caught by beam trawls in the Irish Sea have moved from a 3 rating to an automatic 5 rating, as there is significant concern for the stock level.

• Plaice caught by bean and otter trawl fisheries in the Eastern Channel have been downgraded to a 5 and 4 respectively.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for December?



• Cavolo Nero

• Broccoli

• Brussels Sprouts

• Cime di rapa

• Curly Kale

• Hispi Cabbage

• Jerusalem Artichokes

• Parsnips

• Purple Sprouting Broccoli

• Savoy Cabbage

• Watercress

• Braeburn apples

• Comice & Conference Pears

• Cox Apples

• Persimmon

• Blood oranges

• Yorkshire Rhubarb

December can still provide a decent array of veg, from classic brassicas to quirky alternative roots, ideally suited for creating mouth-watering menus with a dash of frivolity.

The big question is, how has the excessive rainfall and the aftermath of the recent storms affected crops, particularly across Northern Europe? This will inevitably have a bearing on many products over the coming weeks and months.