Farmers are threatening to continue to disrupt shopping at Lidl supermarkets in a row over “kamikaze” chicken and egg costs.
They have accused the supermarket giant of selling chickens and eggs at prices that are lower than it costs farmers to produce them.
IFA poultry chairman Andy Boylan told the Irish Mirror: “This is kamikaze behaviour. Retailers are underselling products for cheaper than it costs farmers to produce them.”
Groups of poultry famers from the Irish Farmers’ Association (FA) held a two-day protest outside the Lidl branches in Cavan and Monaghan on Wednesday and Tuesday, when there were 100 protesters in Monaghan and 75 in Cavan.
Some protesters claimed that the demonstration was sparked because the sector – which employs an estimated 6,000 workers – has been damaged by Lidl’s eggs being two cent too cheap and its chickens being under-priced by 15 cent.
The IFA opposed Lidl’s recent knockdown poultry deal prices, which saw large chickens reduced from €4.29 to €3.49 between January 13 and today.
The promo has now ended, but IFA poultry chairman Andy Boylan has warned that the protests will return if prices for both chickens and eggs are kept low.
He told the Irish Mirror: “This is unsustainable and the retailer and the consumer have to face up to this. These low prices have to be outlawed. It needs regulation.”
He added: “We can’t stand idly by while this is going on. We are quite clear that if the situation is not resolved, we will be back and will be back at even more stores and we will protest for longer.”
Protesting poultry farmer Thomas Fitzsimons said: “Farmers feel they’re not getting fair play at retail level.
“All we are looking for is an extra two cent per egg and 15 cent a chicken.”
IFA policy executive Sarah Hanley said on behalf pig and poultry producers: “We must have our margins restored and we can’t continue to produce unless that is achieved.”
She added: “Poultry producers in this county are only trying to make a living.
“This thing of trying and selling food below the cost of production, it won’t survive.”
A spokesperson for Lidl stated that the supermarket promo does not affect the price which it is contractually obliged to pay to farmers.
She said: “Like all retailers, Lidl operates weekly promotional specials under our ‘Super Savers’ range.
“Lidl bears the costs of all promotional items and the supplier receives the contracted price.”
The IFA’s AGM is being held tomorrow and Friday and its leadership expects to meet with Lidl senior management next week.
