Tue, 27 May 2025

Tue, 27 May 2025 Beef drives food inflation to highest in a year

The British Retail Consortium says the annual rate of food price rises hit 2.8% in May.

* UK food inflation reached an annual high of 2.8% in May, with beef and fresh produce prices increasing significantly.
* Beef prices have risen by around 20% over the past 12 months, with Tomas Maunier, co-founder of Fazenda steakhouse chain, saying that businesses cannot pass on all of these costs to customers.
* The British Retail Consortium (BRC) reported that food prices rose 2.8% in the year to May, the highest annual rate since May 2024.
* Farming industry experts attributed the price increases to high demand and low supply caused by lack of government support.
* Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), said that competition between supermarkets had previously kept beef prices down, but now customers are being hit by cost increases.
* The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board reported that UK cattle prices have been rising at "unprecedented levels" since the start of 2025.
* Experts warned that price increases will affect the whole supply chain and may be passed on to consumers.
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