SUPERMARKETS which changed their ranges to meet consumer demand during the Covid-19 lockdown are reintroducing Scotch beef back onto their shelves – but Tesco has not yet followed suit.
The company has assured farmers that Scottish brands will return to their meat aisle once consumer demand stabilises – but according to analysis from the Scottish Farmer, this hasn’t happened yet.
While Aldi and LIDL kept the percentage of Scotch beef and lamb in their range at 100% from November 2019 to May 2020, other supermarkets saw a reduction during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic.
Of the retailers who decreased the Scotch beef available on their shelves to keep up with demand, all besides Tesco have now returned it to their shelves.
In November 2019 the retailer’s beef range was 78% Scotch, but this figure now stands at 0%. Tesco’s percentage of Scotch lamb has also dropped from 67% to 14% as of last month.
The Scottish Farmer found that the reduction of Scotch beef across UK supermarkets means just 40% of the beef on shelves in Scotch. This figure stood at 53% back in November 2019.
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As for lamb, 57% of the products found on shelves in November were Scotch compared to 36% now.
The publication called on Tesco to reintroduce Scotch products back to previous levels, and urged Asda and Sainsbury to do more to help the public support Scottish farmers.
Pre-coronavirus, 15% of Asda and Sainsburys’ beef range was Scotch – that figure has fallen to 13% and 9% respectively as of May.
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