Beef Loses Sales Against Increases – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

With the increases in meat in recent months (the last was a week ago), the sector warns against a decline in consumption. In different butcher shops, they indicate a smaller influx of customers, while those who arrive buy less.

However, there is also a special situation: in Argentina, despite traditions, the consumption of chicken and pork meat is gaining ground, while the beef product loses. In butcher shops, Mendoza is no stranger to this situation.

"Since the beginning of the year, we have achieved fewer sales. People do not carry as much meat anymore. The chicken is the one that has not changed, is sold as always, "said Jimena, who frequents a butcher shop in Patricias and General Paz.

According to data from the Institute for the Promotion of Argentine Beef (IPCVA), meat consumption in 2018 averaged 56.4 kg, while official data indicate that the chicken was 42.89 pounds and the pig of 15.15 kg. Thus, "alternatives to the cow" become the norm in some sectors.

Price question

Among the various factors, butchers emphasize the difference in price as a reason for the change in consumer behavior: it is the pocket that decides. "Those who come for cheap cuts: soft, nervous, the rise in prices has affected a lot, it was just right," said Dario Mignani, a butcher of the Central Market.

The same scenario has been reported in the butcher shops around San Juan Street, where the price of chicken can be up to three times cheaper than that of beef: about 60 pesos per kilo. The sweet, for example, is reached in about 250 pesos, while milling goes from the $ 110 common to the $ 200 special.

This price range was formed in the last days of January, the month in which another increase had already taken place. Thus, in just four weeks, the meat has increased by 30%.

New increase for meat: it will be between 15% and 20% more https://t.co/t59NKlx493 pic.twitter.com/m1BbczsgSQ

– El Sol Mza newspaper (@elsolonline) January 29, 2019

Less on the plate

For its part, the Chamber of Industry and Trade in Meat and Derivatives of the Argentine Republic (CICCRA) issued a report detailing that, despite the increase in beef exports, domestic consumption had fallen sharply. About 4% price In January of this year, per capita consumption was 55.5 kilos, which is 3.8% less than in the same month in 2018.

"Beyond what they say about chicken and pork, here everything has fallen together," said Mignani. "We see fewer people and it's very rare that they buy for roasting, they go as far as possible to feed themselves," explained the butcher.