Christmas Turkey to cost higher this year

An overwhelming demand of  dairy products all over the world with more people increasing their standard of life, has caused the  rise in price for the festive turkey this Christmas all across Europe.

Seems like Christmas is going to be hard this year!

The prices of turkey which has  already  been double folded this year by an increase in 20 percent when compared to last year might increase more as Christmas approaches.

Dailymail reports Sean Rickard, an agricultural economist, as saying : ‘For every pound of poultry meat produced, you need two-and-a-half pounds of grain. The effect of rising living standards in countries like China and India is that the people are eating more meat and dairy products.

‘Consequently, we have seen world grain prices rise and these higher prices are feeding through to supermarkets and in particular to fresh meat and dairy foods.’

Roger Kelsey, chief executive of the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, which represents 1,200 butchers’ shops, said: ‘The general view from members is it is going to be a difficult Christmas.

‘If supermarkets start a price war, they fear that, in these difficult economic times, customers will shop around.’

Mike Bailey, deputy chairman of the National Farmers Union poultry board, said shoppers were typically buying birds weighing 10lb to 12lb compared with 12lb to 14lb before the recession.

He said: ‘It is probably linked to cost. People are choosing a turkey for one day’s meal rather than eating the leftovers for a week.’