UK boost to broccoli production - mixed blessing as value drops
But increasing price pressure has shaved value from £208m down to £180m. Even so, there remain opportunities to grow sales, and potentially drive the seasonal British offer, Produce Business UK (PBUK) investigated.
“In the latest year (the 52 weeks ending 16 July 2017), broccoli is worth £180m [to the UK retail market], which is down about 0.4% compared with the year-earlier period, while volume is also flat,” Chris Cowan, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel, told PBUK.
Cowan explains that price has been the significant driver of the value decline. In 2013 he says the average price for broccoli in the UK was £2.52 per kilogramme, while today it has fallen by almost £1.00 to £1.59/kg.
During the last few years, Richard Mowbray, vice-chairman of the British Brassicas Association says the grower base across the entire brassica category has been in decline because of low returns. Despite the challenges, Mowbray believes there could be brighter days ahead for British broccoli producers and UK agriculture in general.
“I think there’ll be opportunities, especially with the weakening of the British pound and the changes as a result of Brexit,” he explains.
“Already, imported broccoli is now 15-20% more expensive than it was 18 months ago,” Mowbray continues. “Depending on what trade deals and agricultural support the UK gets, the country could look to become more self-sufficient in food than it has been in a while."
source: producebusinessuk.com
