Consumer

UK Grocers Swap British Beef for Cheaper Foreign Imports

Cuts of British beef inside a supermarket.Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

British beef’s pride of place on UK supermarket shelves is under threat as falling livestock numbers, record prices and stretched household budgets push grocers to seek out cheaper cuts from overseas.

Some supermarkets have watered down commitments to source all beef from domestic suppliers, raising fears foreign competition could price out local farmers at a time when the UK wants to boost food security.