Turkey sales fall in bird flu scare
Sales of turkey and chicken have fallen by at least 10 per cent following the discovery of bird flu on a Bernard Matthews farm last week.
The figures for some of the firm's own products are even worse, according to sales data given to the Daily Mail.
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Sales of turkey and chicken have fallen by at least 10 per cent following the discovery of bird flu on a Bernard Matthews farm last week.
The figures for some of the firm's own products are even worse, according to sales data given to the Daily Mail.
The crisis in confidence has not been helped by news that the Health Protection Agency has tested two people who have been at the Suffolk farm for possible infection.
Last night a Bernard Matthews worker with 'flu-like symptoms' was having tests for the potentially deadly H5N1 strain, and others are expected to be examined over the next few days. Earlier, a Government vet was given the all-clear.
The Food Standards Agency, farmers, Government ministers and the company all stress there is no risk to human health
from eating poultry or eggs. The birds with the virus have all been destroyed as part of a cull of 159,000 young turkeys, while the bug itself is killed by thorough cooking.
However, there has been a clear shift in buying patterns since bird flu was confirmed on Friday night.
Tesco has admitted to a 'slight dip' in sales while other major supermarkets, including Sainsbury's and Asda, have rejected the idea point blank.
But the sales figures show a very different picture. A respected industry insider who provided the details said: "The claims from some stores that there is no effect on sales just beggar belief.
"Retailers are seeing a fall in sales of all poultry of more than 10 per cent, but it is considerably worse than that on some Bernard Matthews' lines."
Bernard Matthews makes a range of branded turkey products and provides own-label turkey for some supermarkets, including Sainsbury's.
The 76-year- old tycoon who gave his name to the firm looked tired and gaunt yesterday after six days at the centre of Britain's worst bird flu outbreak.
Mr Matthews, said to be worth £ 302million, was seen in public for the first time since the scare erupted when he was driven from his home in Lenwade near Norwich. It is believed he was heading for a crisis meeting at his company's headquarters in Great Witchingham Hall, around two miles away.
Earlier he said: "What we have is a very big problem for the company."
