Farmers hit back at supermarkets (From Western Telegraph)

Farmers hit back at supermarkets

Supermarkets may be forced to display exactly how much they pay farmers for meat, fruit and vegetables as a campaign spearheaded by Pembrokeshire producers gains momentum.

For two years, the Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers Union of Wales has urged the Government to make retailers follow the French example where they are required by law to display the price they pay their suppliers.

The French Government intervened after farmers complained they were not getting a fair share of the shop price. The British Government may intervene after a survey revealed that some supermarkets were charging a mark-up of up to 350% on lamb.

Farmers accuse the multiples of using the foot and mouth disease outbreak to cash in on meat sales. Meurig and Val Harries, whose beef and sheep enterprise near Eglwyswrw is featured inside this issue, are currently averaging £14.60 for a 12 kg lamb, half what they have been paid in previous years.

The FUW survey revealed that supermarkets are receiving in excess of £90 after preparing the lamb for sale. These findings have been backed by official Meat and Livestock Commission figures which show that the gap between farm and shop prices is the highest on record - a 187% rise.

Farmers like Meurig and Val Harries are fighting back by exploring opportunities of branding their lamb and selling it direct to independent butchers. The National Assembly for Wales is actively encouraging schemes which add value at the farmgate.

Rebecca Williams, county executive officer of the FUW in Pembrokeshire, says such schemes must be applauded, but were not the answer for every producer because they were aimed at niche markets.

There is only so much volume that can be sold to niche markets, she said. The vast majority is sold through supermarkets and, as the results of our survey demonstrate, this is where the issue of unfair pricing needs to be tackled."

She is hopeful the Government will listen to the demands for the purchase price to be displayed on supermarket shelves, a policy she believes the customer would welcome.

Realistically, however, she concedes that supermarkets, who oppose the idea, would ultimately block the proposal. We are always hopeful but such decisions are more often than not determined by who is contributing the most to the economy."

But the Government has not rejected the campaign and says it will take the proposal into account in future policies.

Supermarkets may be forced to display exactly how much they pay farmers for meat, fruit and vegetables as a campaign spearheaded by Pembrokeshire producers gains momentum.

For two years, the Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers Union of Wales has urged the Government to make retailers follow the French example where they are required by law to display the price they pay their suppliers. The French Government intervened after farmers complained they were not getting a fair share of the shop price. The British Government may intervene after a survey revealed that some supermarkets were charging a mark-up of up to 350% on lamb.

Farmers accuse the multiples of using the foot and mouth disease outbreak to cash in on meat sales. Meurig and Val Harries, whose beef and sheep enterprise near Eglwyswrw is featured inside this issue, are currently averaging £14.60 for a 12 kg lamb, half what they have been paid in previous years.

The FUW survey revealed that supermarkets are receiving in excess of £90 after preparing the lamb for sale. These findings have been backed by official Meat and Livestock Commission figures which show that the gap between farm and shop prices is the highest on record - a 187% rise.

Farmers like Meurig and Val Harries are fighting back by exploring opportunities of branding their lamb and selling it direct to independent butchers. The National Assembly for Wales is actively encouraging schemes which add value at the farmgate.

Rebecca Williams, county executive officer of the FUW in Pembrokeshire, says such schemes must be applauded, but were not the answer for every producer because they were aimed at niche markets.

There is only so much volume that can be sold to niche markets," she said. The vast majority is sold through supermarkets and, as the results of our survey demonstrate, this is where the issue of unfair pricing needs to be tackled."

She is hopeful the Government will listen to the demands for the purchase price to be displayed on supermarket shelves, a policy she believes the customer would welcome.

Realistically, however, she concedes that supermarkets, who oppose the idea, would ultimately block the proposal. We are always hopeful but such decisions are more often than not determined by who is contributing the most to the economy."

But the Government has not rejected the campaign and says it will take the proposal into account in future policies.