IFA to Meet Lidl Management Next Week

IFA President Tim Cullinan said Lidl has agreed to meet IFA next week to discuss the income crisis at farm level and how retailers can support producers.

The confirmation came as farmers completed 24-hour protests in Cavan and Monaghan.

Tim Cullinan said IFA will have a clear message for the senior management in Lidl that their cut-price promotions are damaging.

“Farmers are very frustrated and angry, as evidenced by the protest over the last 24 hours. They are committed to getting an outcome that will recognise the cost pressures they are under,” Tim Cullinan said.

“Selling a 1.9kg chicken for €3.49 disrupts consumer patterns and does have a cost. To suggest otherwise is utterly disingenuous,” he said.

“Some retailers have recognised the very severe income difficulties at the moment and they have increased the price of chicken on the shelf. Yet Lidl pulled the price.”

The IFA Poultry Chairman Andy Boylan said the Government’s inaction on retail legislation has created this situation. “This race to the bottom will have significant consequences for producers. Unless we have robust regulation of retailers, we will see more and more farmers going to the wall.”

The cost of gas, energy, labour and animal feed have all seen inflation rise significantly. Irish inflation shot to a 14-year high in October, which has had a damaging effect on the sector.

Vice Chairman of the Poultry Committee Brendan Soden said farmers are very concerned about their future as the price has decreased in the past 12 months.