British butchers are flourishing despite the rise and popularity of vegetarianism and veganism. This is because people are looking for higher quality meat while reducing their overall consumption.
Spending on beef, lamb and pork in British butchers jumped by 28 per cent to £338.5 million in 2020 and grew even more in 2021 where sales rose £438million, according to research from Kantar.
However, UK daily meat consumption has declined by 17% in the last ten year. vegan meat imitations thriving at supermarkets and estimated to be worth £1billion to the UK economy.
This is likely to be because middle-class Brits don’t like the idea of buying meat at the supermarket. They prefer to shop at ’boutique shops’ for the best cuts.
Paul Grout, founder of the Meat chain with butchers in some of the most expensive parts of north London, believes that people are more interested in ‘provenance’ and want to know where their food came from.
Local British butchers are flourishing despite the rise and popularity of vegetarianism and veganism. This is because people are looking for higher quality meat while reducing their overall consumption (stock photo).
He told the Times demand went ‘absolutely mental’ at his Stoke Newington shop during lockdown as locals unable to go to restaurants forked out £13.75 for 250g cuts of fillet steak at £13.75 and £67.50 for 3kg legs of lamb for £67.50.
Other butchers, such as HG Walter in west London – that supplies Michelin starred restaurants and Harrods – saw queues around the block despite the number of butchers in the UK falling by 60 per cent to fewer than 5,500 in the last 25 years.
John Pallagi, CEO of Farmison & Co an online butcher told FEMAIL: ‘Making sure the nation eats better quality produce is something we actually have in common with many of those advocating for plant-based diets.
In lockdown, the demand for high quality meat with flavour soared as people tried to recreate the restaurant experience at their home. However, there was also enthusiasm for the provenance and origin of our meat.
“I have always believed that heritage British breeds are better tasting and that encouraging people to eat this meat is a good idea for the environment and a true superfood.
“We also saw an increase in demand from our customers when educational pieces were released.
Spending on beef, lamb and pork in British butchers jumped by 28 per cent to £338.5 million in 2020 and grew even more in 2021 where sales rose £438million, according to research from Kantar (stock image)
“Customers suddenly began to prepare most of their meals themselves, and we were thrilled to offer them the chance to try new cuts. This helped us reduce wastage.”
Tony Hindhaugh (Director at Parson’s Nuse butcher) said: “Covid was a game-changer for the high street, and especially food retailers.
Customers were skeptical that Covid was made by humans and wondered if there was any connection to animals. This, along with concerns about crowds and shortages at large supermarkets, helped to drive customers back to the high streets and local shops in their communities.
People working from home clearly have an impact on meat sales. Work time lunches are now a thing of the past and families are spending more quality time together at dinner. People are more open to cooking for themselves and are more aware of the importance of what they eat.
“Customers were more concerned about where their food came from and were willing to pay more to have some control over the quality and provenance of their food.
“This has a massive environmental impact. Cheap meat is mass-produced, contains growth hormones, and contributes to a significant amount of harmful gases in the environment.
“Now that the lockdown is decreasing and things are slowly returning to normality, the trend continues and has not fallen off. Parson’s Nose sales are still significantly up and the same appetite for knowledge and information about what you eat is still there with the customer. This is good for butchery, high street and local shopping.
A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health earlier this month revealed that most people are consuming less red meat and processed food than a decade ago.
The Oxford-based team discovered that although there was a 17g per capita drop in meat consumption, it is not enough to meet the National Food Strategy goal.
Based on a review of the UK’s food system, including farming, the goal recommends that meat consumption be reduced by 30% over the next ten year.
Waitrose recently reported that middle-class Brits are switching to a ‘climatarian diet,’ as a way to reduce their carbon footprint.
The “new 5:2 diet” is a term for a popular weight loss technique where people eat only two days per week. Eco-conscious Britons spend five days a year eating vegetables and then treat themselves to meat on weekends.
Waitrose shoppers are looking for ways to be greener than just reducing meat consumption. They also want to reduce food waste by donating excess food or not buying packaged groceries.
Nearly 70% of Waitrose customers agreed that reducing their climate footprint was very important or very important.
Meanwhile, Lifesum, the leading global nutrition app has launched a ‘climatarian’ diet for its users which focuses on reducing the carbon footprint with plant-based, locally sourced produce.
It’s not the exact same as a vegetarian diet. However, it does include eco-friendly meats like chicken and avoids harmful plants like almonds.
Countryfile’s Adam Henson, a Countryfile presenter, warned earlier this year of the harmful effects of fruit on the environment.
He stated that almond milk and avocados are bad for the environment. It is not an easy argument.
‘Beef, dairy farmers, and sheep farmers are getting a lot of attention about climate change and their health. But the industries are doing a lot to address that.
“So, I would encourage people to eat British cuisine and not buy cheap food imported from abroad.
Avocado production is very water-intensive. A kilo of avocados requires 2000 litres of water.
This, along with the Western fascination of avocados, has resulted in avocados being linked to water shortages, human rights violations, ecosystem destruction, and general environmental devastation throughout Mexico.
20-30% of global carbon emissions are caused by food. Reducing animal food consumption is a major component. Beef, in particular, contributes more to global carbon emissions than other plant foods (roughly 57% compared to 29%).
A Climatarian diet that focuses on whole plant-based foods has been shown to lower the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. It also increases overall vitality, mental well-being, and longevity. Some people even notice their skin clears of blemishes or acne – or just looks healthier and younger,’ Dr Alona Pulde told FEMAIL.