Australia: Butchers benefit from localism
Meat and Livestock Australia has noted that ‘localism’ has contributed to sales of beef at butchers surging by about 40% in the last 12 weeks.
The industry body says more Australians are buying food from local businesses out of convenience and to ‘support local’.
It noted some early signs that consumer behaviour may change following the pandemic, with an increased focus on quality and safety, as consumers seek out trusted products. It also anticipates a preference for cooking at home, as social distancing measures continue.
It added: “In the US, the processing situation has rapidly improved, with cattle slaughter now above year-ago levels. The unpredicted speed of this recovery will likely create implications for Australian and global markets as the US returns as a prominent competitor. There are still some challenges, however, with processors facing a large backlog of overfed cattle still on feed and on pasture.”
