Meat imports into the UK have doubled over the last 20 years, according to new research by the Co-op. It comes the week that the convenience retailer announced it will become the first national retailer to switch all of the fresh meat which bears its name to British. The Co-op has called on more supermarkets and food service providers to back home-grown goods.

Since 1996, the quantity of meat coming to the UK from the European Union and other countries has soared from £3bn to £6.2bn. More than £5bn worth of meat is now shipped from European Union member states while Asia and Oceania countries account for £804m worth of imports followed by Latin America at £345m.

Asian and Oceanic imports have seen their exports to the UK almost treble from £304m in 1996. The biggest imports from that region come from Thailand (£423m) and New Zealand (£291m).

Ireland is the biggest beneficiary of EU meat trade with the UK, with £1.45bn of meat arriving in the UK from across the Irish Sea.

From today, Co-op stores will provide only 100% fresh British bacon and lamb – dropping Danish bacon and New Zealand lamb. Almost a tenth of all meat imports into the UK come from Denmark, which exports £550m worth of meat into Britain each year while New Zealand lamb accounts for £291m worth of UK imports.

The Co-op already only sells British beef, chicken, ham, pork, sausages, duck and turkey and only uses British meat in all its own-label chilled ready meals, pies and sandwiches***.

Jo Whitfield, Retail Chief Executive, Co-op, said:

“British consumers will be shocked to see how meat imports have grown while at the same time retailers hang out the bunting and claim to back British farmers. Only the Co-op offers 100% British fresh meat all year round and not just in the meat cabinet but also in our sandwiches, our pies and our ready meals.

“We can do this because we’re owned by members not shareholders and can invest long-term in what matters to communities, not what provides the fastest shareholder return. I call on other retailers and food providers to do more to help our farmers, particularly as they head towards uncertain times.”

Zoe Davies, Chief Executive, National Pig Association, said:

“Around half of the pork consumed in the UK is imported. Fluctuating currency markets and imports which are cheaper because of lower welfare standards can significantly impact the cost of home produced pork, making it harder for farmers to make a living.

“We call on more retailers and food providers to back British and either source more UK pork or follow the Co-op’s lead and go 100% British.”

Meat imports by UK firms are up from £5.87bn in 2015 to £6.21bn in 2016. They have risen by a third since 2006, when they totalled £4.7bn.

NFU Scotland’s newly-appointed Food Chain Policy Manager Lindsey Macdonald said: “This commitment by the Co-op to exclusively stock British fresh meat across an extensive product range is good news for farmers and consumers alike.”

“For a major retailer to deliver 100 per cent British beef, lamb, pork, bacon, ham, chicken, turkey and duck to its customers sends a clear message to other supermarkets on what is achievable when it comes to genuinely supporting the nation’s farmers and crofters.  For that commitment to also extend into its own-label range of processed foods like pies and sausages as well as chilled ready meals and sandwiches is an unparalleled level of support.

“We are keen to discuss with the Co-op what scope there is for building the Scottish offering within its stores.  Last year saw the Co-op launch a Scottish premium bacon range for its stores.  That provides a platform from which to build and we look forward to taking this forward when we meet with the Co-op at the Highland Show next month.”

Co-op launches a £10m campaign this week focusing on the benefits of sourcing from British local farmers. Full-page prints ads will appear in national newspapers while a TV campaign airs later