The meat market - Portugal

In line with the increased awareness of a balanced and healthy diet, some types of meat (mainly red meat) continue to suffer from a slowdown in demand. However, this same trend is partly offset by the increased demand for higher quality products as consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for high quality food. In Portugal, there is still a rather limited niche market for meat substitutes. Despite this, the demand for meat substitutes is growing at a record rate every year, both in current value and in volume. This is supported by the growing number of Portuguese consumers who wish to reduce their meat consumption in response to the country's growing health concerns, in addition to animal welfare and sustainability issues. Meat sales continue to be dominated by private labels such as Continente, Pingo Doce and Lidl. The Portuguese traditionally value the offerings of popular retailers for their wide range of products at competitive prices. However, private labels continue to lose ground to newer brands as local consumers increasingly seek higher quality products. This segment appears to be the biggest gateway for new players.