The meat industry is experiencing major disruption with the food service market effectively shut down across Europe due to COVID-19 restrictions, according to the body which represents factories.

In a statement, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) said food service, which includes restaurants, fast food outlets and caterers, accounts for over 30% of Irish beef exports. It said their orders had stopped, with McDonald's the latest to announce it was closing all its outlets in Ireland and the UK on Monday.

The disruption to the food service trade has seen a surge in retail demand which has helped to keep a floor in the market. Beef prices in Ireland have remained steady as a result.

An MII spokesperson said: “While retail demand spiked for a short period, there are signs that this is normalising now, as bulk buying by consumers eases.”

Steak

This demand was for mince and diced products as opposed to steak.

“For beef in particular, the loss of food service outlets is creating a major imbalance as food service traditionally takes a far greater proportion of Ireland’s steak cuts, which account for a high share of the overall market return,” the spokesperson said.

MII said the current level of market disruption was unsustainable and that support measures from the EU would be urgently needed.

A number of farm organisations have also called on the EU to step in and provide market supports for beef, including aid to private storage.

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Marts shut down across Northern Ireland

Market for 30% of beef exports ‘effectively shut down’ – Meat Industry Ireland

While a surge in retail demand has helped underpin beef price, Meat Industry Ireland has said the market for 30% of beef exports has been effectively shut down.