Rooster consumption anticipated to develop by 1.6% in 2024
18 November 2024
3 minute learn
Quite a few knowledge sources point out that rooster meat consumption is now the popular (less-expensive) animal protein alternative within the EU, based on a latest US Division of Agriculture (USDA) International Agricultural Info Community (GAIN) report. After pork, it’s the second largest meat consumed within the EU.
EU rooster meat consumption is anticipated to develop by 1.6% in 2024 and 0.5% in 2025. Knowledge present that development in rooster consumption is carefully associated to demographic development, and per capita consumption is anticipated to barely improve.
EU rooster meat consumption in 2024 and 2025 will doubtless proceed to learn by the inflow of 6 million Ukrainian conflict refugees in Europe in addition to a gentle movement of migrants from the southern hemisphere.
Because the cheaper supply of animal protein, rooster meat stays considerably extra insulated from the pressures of excessive meals inflation and vitality prices in Europe. Market research on worth and revenue elasticity of demand typically present that EU shoppers substitute from beef or pork meat to rooster meat whereas lowest-income shoppers have a tendency to cut back their purchases of animal protein altogether, switching to carbohydrate merchandise reminiscent of bread and pasta.
In Germany and different EU international locations, rooster meat is in style in institutional cafeterias, as there are fewer non secular restrictions in comparison with beef and pork. This side is more and more vital as communities have gotten extra various. That is very true for meals service and tourism. Within the EU, gross sales of cheaper cuts reminiscent of legs and wings are additionally rising.
In a number of EU international locations, reminiscent of Germany, France and Poland, the shift to rooster meat consumption can be aided by the notion that it’s a more healthy and leaner meat, and it’s typically simpler to organize.
Shopper demand is rising for rooster produced with particular strategies or feeds. Shopper preferences for animal welfare, reminiscent of cage-free and free-range chickens, or sort of feed, reminiscent of GMO-free rooster or organically produced rooster are more and more seen on the label and on the level of sale.
The free-range sector in France represents about 10 p.c of complete consumption. Media campaigns by animal rights organizations such because the L214 affiliation in France have drawn consideration to the mistreatment of rooster on poultry farms and slaughterhouses. This has not had a big impression on rooster meat gross sales, however these efforts are boosting the event of non-conventional rooster manufacturing schemes.
The expansion of particular manufacturing schemes can be important within the Netherlands, Germany and Austria. In some circumstances, retail costs for these merchandise are double the value of the extra standard choices. Regionally sourced rooster can be driving demand. In Austria, retailers are prominently promoting native and regional suppliers. At similar time, this exposes the evident conundrum of accelerating client demand for domestically produced rooster, whereas many communities are hardening their resistance to increasing poultry farms of their communities.
