Asda and Tesco have come under fire from Scottish sheep farmers for failing to give their full support to Scotch lamb at the peak of the marketing season.
An impromptu survey by NFU Scotland has found a “worrying and disappointing level” of imported lamb on the shelves of Asda and Tesco stores at a time when red meat industry body Quality Meat Scotland has just launched a national Scotch lamb promotion.
“Both supermarkets are hugely important supporters of Scotch lamb and we appreciate that at certain times of the year, a level of imported product may be required,” said union president, Nigel Miller.
“However, this is peak season for Scottish and UK lamb and there is a perfectly reasonable expectation from Scottish sheep farmers that home-produced product should be filling the full range of fresh lamb being offered.”
Miller added that Scottish lamb was currently more competitively priced than it had been for a year.
EDDIE GILLANDERS