Sausage and bacon sales tumble

According to the latest retail data from IRI, sales of pre-packed sausages and bacon are down, following the recent publication of a report stating that processed meats can cause cancer.

IRI’s Retail Advantage weekly figures, which measured sales across al the major grocery multiples, for the week of the announcement (w/e 31 October) and the following week (w/e 7 November) show a clear impact on sales, with total losses for sausages and bacon alone estimated to be in the region of £3 million over the two weeks. 

Value sales for pre-packed sausages were down 15.7% for w/e 31 October compared to the same week the previous year, despite a 12-week decline of 5.6% and 52-week decline of 3.1%. Pre-packed bacon saw even sharper declines, down 17%, despite a 12-week decline of 6.5% and 52-week decline of 5.6%.  This equates to an incremental fall in sales of about 10%, due to the scare.

The trend in week 2 (w/e 7 November) continued at the same rate for bacon, down 16.5%, but slightly less for sausages – heavily promoted by some retailers during bonfire week  – down 13.9%. Other pre-packed meats also saw a decline in sales, down 10% overall. Other meat products and associated food, such as eggs, were not negatively impacted, with overall spending on meat staying broadly consistent, suggesting that shoppers were switching to other meat products.