Growth potential in Christmas traditional turkey market

Christmas turkey producers are urged to get into themarket for joints and value-added products in the annual newsletter from PaulKelly to FarmGate Hatcheries poult customers.

Christmas turkey producers are urged to get into the market for joints and value-added products in the annual newsletter from Paul Kelly to FarmGate Hatcheries poult customers.

"While whole bird sales do make up the majority of Christmas sales, the market for joints and value-added products is growing. This is a market you must get into in order to stay in the race," said Paul Kelly, managing director of Kelly Turkeys.  

"Crowns and joints were averaging about GBP16 (US$26.68) per kilogram at retail at Christmas - they can be very profitable."  

Providing value-added products is one of his key pointers to future growth. He stated: "Quality farm fresh turkeys have the potential to increase their market share in the long term, providing we as farmers work hard at ensuring consumers know where to buy our turkey and offer an easy order service with a range of value-added products to satisfy demand."  

To make ordering easy producers must be using the internet, he said.  "In 2013, just 11 percent of our retail orders were received via our traditional price list that is mailed out to our customers. Of all our retail orders online, 62 percent were taken out of office hours. You need to provide a 24/7 ordering service and it must be online - and not a telephone answering machine."  

This year FarmGate Hatcheries, of Danbury, Essex, is offering a range of five breeds in both bronze and white, along with the Black Roly Poly, with the option of as-hatched or sexed hens.  

Paul Kelly referred to their 'unique program to select breeding stock that eats superbly.' He stated: "I think I can confidently say I have tasted more turkeys of different breeds than anyone on the planet. I can assure you there are big differences in various breeding lines for both bronze and white. We have stopped breeding from two pure lines over the past three years because of relatively poor eating quality.  

"Ultimately, it is the experience your customers have at the Christmas dinner that is the key to repeat business."

Day-old poults are available from mid-May to mid-September, with prices up by less than one percent on 2013 on account of the inflation in power and wages more than absorbing all the saving in feed cost.
Page 1 of 33
Next Page