SALES of beef have fallen by as much of 45 per cent while sales of pork and chicken have doubled, according to the president of the Irish Butcher's Association, writes Audrey Magee.
Mr Noel O'Connor said people who normally shopped at supermarkets were now going to the local butcher and asking about the source of the beef sold. He said sales of lamb had also increased despite high prices. Wealthier shoppers were no longer buying beef but people on lower incomes were buying "colossal" amounts of minced beef and meat. " I honestly believe this is a great opportunity for the family butcher because we can tell people where the meat came from and where it was slaughtered," said Mr O'Connor. He added that he expected the beef crisis to worsen slightly before improving and that the family butcher would benefit from the change in consumer habits.
McDonald's, meanwhile, said their sales of beef burgers had fallen by about three per cent as people moved to chicken and fish.