Burger sales boom boost for supply chain

Latest data from Kantar Worldpanel showed that, in the 52 weeks to February 1, volume sales of fresh beef and lamb burgers rose by 13.3 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.

The figures also highlighted that beef burgers accounted for 85 per cent of the total burger market share for the period, with volume sales up by 11.2 per cent to reach 53,001 tonnes. Volume sales of lamb burgers during the same period rose by 18.9 per cent to 3,641 tonnes.

Amid the rise of the ‘better burger’ trend among consumers, EBLEX launched its Gourmet range of four cut-specific burgers designed to add value to the burger and mince market to help improve carcase utilisation and returns throughout the supply chain.

The EBLEX Quality Standard Mark (QSM) scheme for beef and lamb provides one of the highest levels of independently inspected quality assurance for meat in the United Kingdom. The standards contain combined guarantees of food safety, animal welfare, care for the environment and enhanced eating quality.

Mike Whittemore, EBLEX head of trade marketing, said: “It’s fantastic to see how well the burger market has been performing over the past year. We developed our Gourmet Burger range just as the ‘better burger’ trend started to emerge. We wanted to demonstrate to industry that by opting for cut-specific burgers, there is real potential to encourage shoppers to trade up to a premium quality product.

“We know that mincing trim from the rump, chuck or brisket can significantly improve margin potential, as well as creating different taste and texture profiles that many customers prefer. Importantly, using this method ensures better carcase utilisation which delivers an enhanced gross profit margin throughout the supply chain.”