NFU members have staged a demonstration outside the Tesco stand at the Royal Welsh Show in protest at the retailer’s failure to back British lamb.

Around 60 farmers gathered at the NFU Cymru stand on the Builth Wells showground this morning (Monday) before marching down to the Tesco stand.

The NFU has strongly criticised Tesco’s decision to heavily promote end of season lamb from the southern hemisphere despite it being the middle of the prime season for British grass-fed, spring-born lamb.

NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe, who was among the protestors this morning, said: “Livestock farmers here and across the country are angry, disappointed and frustrated at the way some retailers are continuing to promote an end-of-season product, which many view as inferior, over Red Tractor-assured, fresh lamb produced in the fields, valleys and hills of England and Wales.

“We’re highlighting Tesco as we believe they are failing to live up to the commitments made by their outgoing chief executive Philip Clarke at the NFU Conference last year that Tesco should be the best supporter of British farmers and that it wished to shorten the supply chain.

“We will continue to keep up the pressure on all retailers and the independent Beef & Lamb Watch results just out highlight those retailers who aren’t backing British farming and living up to commitments made on sourcing.”

More on what the NFU is doing on lamb and on beef volatility can be found here.