Race to the Bottom Has to Stop and Beef Prices Must Rise
Speaking at the Beef Taskforce meeting in Dublin today, the IFA President Joe Healy told the main retailers that the unsustainable discounting of top-quality beef was a race to the bottom that has to stop.
He said beef prices cannot continue at current loss-making levels at farm level and must be increased.
“Retailers and factories, who work together, must pass back higher market returns with a significant and immediate price rise to farmers.”
Joe Healy said retailers outlined details of their specifications, which in general are a lot less onerous than those applied by the factories.
He said the Taskforce has hired international consultants Grant Thornton to undertake a full and independent review of market and customer requirements, specifically in relation to the four in-spec bonus criteria currently in operation. The retailers indicated they will co-operate fully with this exercise.
