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Prime lamb needs a good start

'No shortage of prime lamb': NFU Cymru.
'No shortage of prime lamb': NFU Cymru.
‘No shortage of prime lamb’:
NFU Cymru.

THE CLEAR message from Welsh sheep farmers at the recent NFU Cymru Livestock Board is that 2015 has been a good lambing season and there is a plentiful supply of great tasting PGI Welsh Lamb becoming available.

Lyndon Edwards Chairman of the Board, and a Monmouthshire sheep farmer said: “Retailers should be in no doubt that there will be no shortage of prime PGI Welsh lamb over the next 12 months.”

NFU Cymru is asking retailers for:

  • Transparency on commitment to sourcing Welsh lamb, specifically when the retailers’ season starts and finishes.
  • Getting closer to producers: Improved communications and relationships are required from the supply chain which offers stability and confidence to producers.
  • Product development: An outline of plans on how they plan to develop new products to entice consumers to buy Welsh lamb and enable lamb carcasses to be balanced.
  • Ensure that labelling is clear on the origin of lamb and clearly highlighting the PGI status of Welsh lamb.
  • Dedicated shelf space for both Welsh and UK lamb is important to ensure the consumers are left in no doubt what they are buying.

Mr Edwards continued: “NFU Cymru will use every possible opportunity over the coming weeks to ask retailers to confirm their commitments to sourcing Welsh and to outline our key asks. It is important to note, though, that the drivers that the lamb market faces are far more complex than simple retailer sourcing. Exchange rates, consumer demand – domestically and abroad, are other vital factors. Carcass balance for different markets is also important as a means of adding overall value. What is most important of all is the continued support of the public in ensuring that when they go to supermarkets and restaurants they make a point of asking for great tasting PGI Welsh lamb.”

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