Skyrocketing Meat Prices: Insights from Derby’s Local Food Business Owners

Restaurants and butchers in Derby are facing tough times due to soaring meat prices. Emily’s Steakhouse, a fixture in the city for 17 years, is adapting to survive. Their head chef, Datsun Li, mentions that beef prices have “rocketed.” They now run on bookings only, meaning if they don’t fill seats, they don’t open.

Cleavers Butchers in Alvaston reports a nearly 30% rise in the price of mince. Many local business owners share similar concerns about climbing costs. The British Retail Consortium recently revealed that food inflation has hit an annual high, partly due to rising beef and fresh produce prices. Overall, food prices in the UK rose by 2.8% in the year up to May 2025, the highest since May 2024.

Experts in the farming industry say the increase in beef prices stems from high demand and low supply. Data from the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) shows that cattle and calf slaughter numbers from January to April 2025 were down by 4% compared to the same period in 2024. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board notes that the price for a 350kg prime cattle carcass has gone up by about £738 since last year.

Datsun Li emphasizes that their profit margins have become extremely tight, making it difficult to pass higher costs onto customers. Meanwhile, Jack Bradley, director at Cleavers Butchers, has seen mince prices jump by 25-30%. He reflects on past challenges, stating, “Covid was quite bad… but this feels different.”

The government is backing farmers with a £5 billion investment, the largest in the UK’s history for sustainable food production. This effort aims to improve farmers’ profits and stabilize the market.

As this situation unfolds, many are watching closely, wondering how local businesses will adapt and how prices will evolve moving forward.



Source link