Turkey growers with a farmgate outlet are being urged to look at how they “showcase” their products, in the face of increasing competition from major retailers.
The ‘get smart’ message, which comes from NFU turkey group chairman, Mike Bailey, is itself part of the union’s own turkey-based sales programme.
The NFU makes turkey sales items available to its members and has just opened its annual “shop” providing a range of promotional items, including turkey boxes, carcass bags, carrier bags, grease-proof paper, pop-up thermometers, posters and leaflets.
“This merchandise provides small producers with affordable quality turkey boxes and marketing material,” said Mr Bailey, adding that with farmgate sales increasingly having to compete with retailers it is vital that growers showcase their premium products this Christmas.
Shop proceeds are also reinvested to the benefit of growers, of course, with any surplus funds which are raised being used to promote the NFU’s UK turkey finder, which allows consumers to search, by postcode, for a local turkey producer.
