The UK’s National Farmers’ Union yesterday [Monday] launched a campaign to draw attention to the poor deal farmers often get in return for their produce.


According to the campaign, a basket of farmed produce including beef, eggs, milk, bread, tomatoes and apples typically costs £37 (US$57.7) in the shops but a farmer gets just £11, or less than a third of its retail value.


In some categories, farmers can expect to earn less than 25% of the final retail price. Cereal farmers, for instance, get just 8% of the price of a loaf of bread, while pig farmers typically receive 14% of the final retail price of bacon, reported the Guardian. Certain sectors are more profitable – for instance, an average 77% of the retail price of potatoes ends up back with the farmer, and 52% of strawberries, but just 25% of the sale price of apples, carrots and onions goes to the primary producer.


The NFU campaign is designed to highlight the plight of farmers, many of whom are not even able to recoup the cost of production. Some retailers are weighing into the debate, with Tesco director John Gildersleeve urging all milk processors to pay farmers at least £0.02 more per litre to sustain the UK dairy industry. Inevitably, such an initiative can only work if all, or the majority of, processors come on board, thus eradicating radical price differences between different retailers.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.