Butchers warn meat prices to go up this winter | Australian Markets

Making these warming winter consolation meals could also be even tougher this yr, as cost-of-living continues to chew small companies and Australians alike.

General supervisor of Cannings Butchers Matt Oltoumis stated it’s seemingly meat prices will rise this yr, with a quantity of components are contributing to the rising price.

“We’re likely to see beef and lamb prices rise in 2025, mainly due to tighter supply, strong export demand and some processing bottlenecks,” he stated.

“Pork and chicken should stay more stable.”

Mr Oltoumis stated this is due to a selection of causes, that are constraining cost-effective provide.

“The cost of meat at your local butcher is driven by a combination of factors, everything from farm prices and export demand to rent, power bills, logistics, and wages,” he stated.

“Fuel and inflation hit hard too for business owners.

“It’s a complex supply chain, and as a retailer we wear a lot of that pressure while still trying to offer fair prices and keep creative with value-adding products that aren’t in on our customers’ usual menu.”

Labor prices are hurting native butchers – however the high quality delivered by expert human enter can be what retains clients coming back regardless of financial circumstances.

“The most expensive part of producing meat is labour. We need skilled farmhands and processors to ensure the quality of the meat we sell to our customers, as well as experienced butchers and retail staff,” Mr Oltoumis stated.

“This expert human input is vital and obviously comes at a cost. Add to that the rising costs of compliance, logistics, and maintaining cold chains, and labour consistently tops the list.”

However, the investment is paying off, as general spending at butchers has grown 6 per cent, regardless of the average basket measurement dropping 41 per cent – $80 from April 2024 to $47 in April 2025, Tyro fee information reveals.

This comes as food prices rose 3.2 per cent over the 12 months to the March quarter, up from 3.0 per cent within the December quarter, ABS statistics show.

Meat and seafood prices rose 4.3 per cent in contrast to 12 months in the past, the biggest annual increase because the December 2022 quarter.

Mr Oltoumis revealed essentially the most underrated cuts of meat for budget-conscious customers.

“Pork neck is hugely underrated. It’s affordable, well-marbled and incredibly versatile. Perfect for slow roasts in winter, but also brilliant when minced for a rich, traditional bolognese or cut into chunks and grilled as skewers. It delivers tenderness, flavour, and value across a range of cooking styles,” he stated.

“Chicken thighs, beef mince, pork shoulder (neck/scotch), and chuck roast are my go-to economical cuts.

“They’re flavourful, versatile, and stretch across multiple meals – perfect for bolognese, curries, roasts or slow cooks. You get great value without compromising on quality, especially when it’s all premium, free range produce.

“As the seasons change its entirely natural for us to crave ‘winter comfort meals’ and people start to cook a little different, they tend to want to make a meal that will feed them for a few days like a ragu for lasagne or slow cooked roast that you can use for a bunch of different other meals afterwards.

“People swing towards products that can be cooked slowly and

open them up to a variety of recipes.”

Tyro chief govt Jon Davey stated small companies like native butchers are exhibiting great resilience regardless of financial pressures, as neighborhood and high quality retains them above water.

“Local Australian food retailers remain important for local economies,” he stated.

“Small independent retailers continue to attract business through trust and personal connections, with nearly 68 per cent of customers visiting weekly.”