SUPERMARKET shelves are finally starting to fill with Scotch lamb but on the eve of a major promotional push for the product, the NFUS has reported that some retail chains have been lagging behind.
According to the farmers union's Scotch Watch initiative, which compiles on-the-spot observations of both domestic and imported meat in supermarket aisles across the country, the vast majority of retailers in Scotland are 100% stocked with Scottish or British lamb.
However the switch away from imported produce to home-produced new season lamb in some stores has been disappointingly slow, noted the union, and in the case of Asda, is still far from complete.
NFUS found substantial amounts of New Zealand and Australian lamb still on supermarket shelves in July, despite significant numbers of Scottish lambs coming forward to the market. The situation had significantly improved by August with only Asda still stocking a significant volume of old season lamb from New Zealand and Australia. Recent statements from the retailer suggest that the switchover to 100% home-produced lamb will happen soon. In a few weeks NFUS, Quality Meat Scotland and the National Sheep Association will embark on a joint Love Lamb initiative, which will see an unprecedented, united public relations push behind Scotch Lamb.
Union food chain policy manager Kylie Barclay said: "Recent shelf watch results have shown that some retailers have been disappointingly slow to switch over to British and Scottish lamb. Ample supplies of Scottish and British product have been available since June but as late as July this year, many retailers - Asda, M and S, Sainsbury's and Tesco - still had significant amounts of imported lamb on display.
"Our August shelf watch results have been far more positive with only Asda still retaining NZ product.
"Whilst August's results are more encouraging than previous months, it doesn't mask the fact that this move could and should have been made by the retailers sooner, given that there was plentiful supply of good quality Scotch and British lambs available from June this year.
"It can be done. There were retailers - Aldi, Lidl and Morrison's for example - who were stocking 100% Scottish or British lamb back in June and Scottish farmers congratulate those retailers for their solid support this season.
"These retailers exhibit a year-round commitment to British or Scottish which seriously questions why other retailers feel the need to abandon local supply for significant parts of the year.
"However, at this time of year, there can be no excuses for the creeping presence of old season New Zealand or Australian lamb taking up valuable shelf space in some Scottish stores.
"This is peak season, and the presence of imported produce destabilises the normal marketing of Scottish lambs when they are at their best"
For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday's issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk
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