Imported Turkey Cuts Pose Threat to Traditional UK Sector

UK - Increasing sales of cheap imported ‘butterflies’ rather than whole birds pose a threat to the future of the traditional turkey sector, warns Paul Kelly, managing director of leading UK producer Kelly Turkeys.
calendar icon 5 November 2015
clock icon 2 minute read

A butterfly joint is a turkey breast joint split down the middle and opened out, which the British Turkey website says allows easy addition of stuffing and could be more useful for those with smaller ovens than whole birds.

In recent years many retail butchers have been tempted to make easy profits by switching some of their orders from whole turkeys to these breast joints.

But Mr Kelly labelled selling fewer whole birds a "recipe for disaster in the longer term", saying that butchers could lose their supply base, and urging them to take a longer-term view.

“Turkeys grown in the UK by independent farmers is what you can offer your customers,” he wrote in his seasonal customer newsletter.

“A unique proposition that is a very powerful message.

“Of course, you must offer your customers a choice, but I can sell the benefits of a whole bird versus a butterfly to our retail customers and change their decision. You can as well if of course you want to!”

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