Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

RollingNews.ie

One major UK supermarket is going 'British-only' for beef - and it wants others to follow suit

Irish farmers fear there will be a domino effect in the key export market as Brexit looms.

A MAJOR BRITISH supermarket chain has revealed plans to sell only locally sourced fresh meat as the country gears up for Brexit – and it has called on other retailers to follow suit.

The Co-operative Group, the country’s fifth-largest grocer, with a 6% share of the market, already doesn’t stock any Irish meat and has a tradition of selling British-only products where available.

In announcing its ‘British-only’ beef campaign, the Co-op said fellow retailers should also invest in UK farmers – rather than relying on imported goods.

More than half of Irish beef exports currently go to the country, making it the Republic’s largest international market for the commodity.

The National Farmers Union in the UK has also called on other British-based supermarkets to make a commitment to buy British meat.

Both the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) have criticised the British supermarket chain’s move.

ICMSA president John Comer said the move by the UK supermarket chain is “clumsy and an unfeasible idea” and “challenges centuries of food trade between Ireland and Britain”.

“Premature and aggressive calls for the expulsion of non-British foodstuffs from supermarket shelves in that country was ramping up feeling and sentiment at precisely the time when calm and some degree of realism was required.”

He added that it is “impossible for the UK to meet its food requirements” based on domestic produce.

The Irish food-and-drink sector is expected to suffer most from Brexit-related trade barriers, while many producers are already disadvantaged by the depreciation in the pound after the landmark vote.

An IFA spokeswoman said Irish meat has a reputation for quality in the UK and the association wants the long-established trading arrangement between the two countries to continue.

British lamb returns to US Lauren Hurley / PA Images Lauren Hurley / PA Images / PA Images

Reasoning

In its ‘British-only beef’ announcement, the Co-op noted that meat imports into the UK had doubled over the past 20 years. It also singled out Ireland as the “biggest beneficiary of EU meat trade with the UK”.

It said over £5 billion worth of meat is shipped into the UK from EU member states annually, with roughly a third of it coming from Ireland.

In addition to the sizeable beef trade, the vast majority of Irish poultry exports also go to the UK market.

Sign up to our newsletter to receive a regular digest of Fora’s top articles delivered to your inbox.

Written by Killian Woods and posted on Fora.ie

Read: ‘A good speech is like a miniskirt. Long enough to cover up but short enough to be interesting’

Read: Bord na Móna is shutting its Tipperary plant as demand for peat dries up

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 54 comments
Close
54 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eamonn O'Hanrahan
    Favourite Eamonn O'Hanrahan
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 7:24 AM

    They describe a typical Dublin suburb, exciting stuff, surprised they allow comments on such an interesting story.

    101
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran O'Mara
    Favourite Ciaran O'Mara
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 2:06 PM

    @Eamonn O’Hanrahan: never look back in Ongar, I heard them say.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ajax Penumbra
    Favourite Ajax Penumbra
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 10:31 AM

    “Approximately six new homes” — only an approximation? You couldn’t go count them or anything?

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rose Sheridan
    Favourite Rose Sheridan
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 7:20 AM

    “WWE superstar Sheamus” crucial to what? Who or what is he? WWE stands for?

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Memail
    Favourite Jason Memail
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 9:23 AM

    @Rose Sheridan: Asking those questions in the comments section is the fastest way to an answer I’d say. Much better than, oh I don’t know, typing “WWE Sheamus” into Google?

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
    Favourite Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 7:34 AM

    Sloppy, lazy journalism. Sheamus is from Cabra. A Google search could have told you that.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute honey badger
    Favourite honey badger
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 7:55 AM

    @Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice: That explains why there used to be a big poster of him on an esb box on the Old Navan Road! Thank you. Case closed.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alex
    Favourite Alex
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 9:29 AM

    @Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice: He is from Clonsilla, it’s literally written on the WWE website, confirmed by him and on all wrestling bio websites.
    Your searches aren’t good.

    22
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ben wu
    Favourite ben wu
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 12:46 PM

    @Alex: On the WWE website it just says that he is from Dublin, the same goes for FoxSports.
    Never heard of him before and don’t know other sites to check beyond Wiki saying Cabra.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
    Favourite Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 1:32 PM

    @Alex: really. When I worked with him he was from Cabra. Even Google knows that. My searches aren’t necessary aa I got it from the man himself

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
    Favourite Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 1:32 PM

    @honey badger: exactly

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Ollie Fitzpatrick
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 10:52 AM

    Between an Bord Pleanála and County Councils and greedy developers, they have created monsters out of our towns and villages. Time to take a more sensible and sympathetic approach to planning permission and development!!

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Reg McCabe
    Favourite Reg McCabe
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 4:53 PM

    What’s unique about Clonsilla and distinguishes it from other communities mentionef is the presence of the Royal canal. Access from the village to the canal as amenity needs to be improved. Also bordering the village is the iconic Deep Sinking gorge. Unbelievable the article contains no reference whatsoever to the canal and its potential. Lost in plain sight?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Money
    Favourite Sean Money
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 9:58 AM

    They should be grateful to have feckin houses.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fran Mooney
    Favourite Fran Mooney
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 11:23 AM

    Great streetscape like swords, where did you get that from

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary.E.
    Favourite Mary.E.
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 12:25 PM

    It may be an old building ,but the asking price certainly is not.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Money
    Favourite Sean Money
    Report
    Jun 4th 2024, 9:59 AM

    Shamus is a rough man and would put manners on you

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds