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The IFA has launched its Christmas food producers’ campaign in the hope of deterring retailers from discounting food in the run-up to the festive holiday.
“Using farm produce as a tool to drive footfall undermines Irish production and the financial viability of specialist growers and producers,” IFA president Joe Healy said.
Retailers have to respect this investment
“Farmers have invested hugely in their businesses to ensure sufficient supplies of fresh Irish produce for Christmas. Retailers have to respect this investment.”
He went on to praise retailers for the support they had shown farmers during tough drought conditions during the summer period.
Retailers must step up to the plate again and lend their support to farmers who had incurred additional costs after an extremely tough year.
Supermarket shelves immediately ran out of milk and bread
“Let’s remember that when Ireland was hit by a snowstorm last March, supermarket shelves immediately ran out of milk and bread – two products that Irish consumers expect to be available,” Healy said.
He called for a halt on the unsustainable discounting of milk when sold at 65c to 67c/l and insisted that Minister for Enterprise Heather Humphreys needed to review regulations to address unsustainable discounting.
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