Kelly Turkeys is facing 20% cost inflation this year, according to managing director Paul Kelly, as prices of feed, energy and packaging have risen sharply due in part to the war in Ukraine.
In his annual newsletter to customers, Kelly said he has resisted the urge to try and cut corners by, for example, replacing cardboard packaging with a plastic bag, or producing younger turkeys from a different breed, and instead is putting up prices by around 16%.
“We concluded that customers buying a KellyBronze expect the best and dumbing the quality down to save a few quid would be a damaging and an ill-conceived decision,” he said.
“We take comfort in the fact that no one else in the country grows Christmas turkeys as we do, and no one else feeds them the same.”
Kelly added the price increases in other meats – chicken, beef and lamb – were up by 16 to 23%.
Looking at the broader market, Kelly said he didn’t believe higher prices for turkeys would harm Christmas sales as luxury food for Christmas Day has been insulated from recessionary pressures in the past.