Tesco on the Isle of Man is unable to stock a full range of Manx meat due to availability issues from Isle of Man Meats.
A Tesco spokesperson told Manx.News that where it has gaps in supply, it is temporarily supplementing them with alternative products’.
The spokesperson said “We remain committed to supporting and selling local produce in all our stores on the Isle of Man and we continue to stock IOM Meats where available.”
Tesco is working with IOM Meats to resolve these issues and is hopeful to see a full range on offer in the stores soon.
Manx Meat
Earlier today (August 5), Isle of Man Meats announced that it has disposed of around £40,000 worth of Manx meat due to another breakdown at the plant.
The disposal of frozen offal and held stock from the freezer of Isle of Man Meats was due to equipment failure.
By law, this stock must be held at minus 12 degrees and below, but due to the freezer failure this rose to minus 5 degrees.
Isle of Man Meats says that the stock value sits at around £40k of potential sales.
In a statement it said: “Whilst waste occurs at each point in the chain across the food industry it is something that we strive to prevent, however legislation is in place to protect human health, and must take priority.”
Lack of Stock
Isle of Man Meats has been called out by local sellers for its lack of communication and lack of product.
In April, a local processor of Manx meat was forced to close it’s website down for a second time in just over a week, due to problems with meat supply.
Over the Easter weekend Andreas Meats and other local butchers, including one that makes pet food, took to social media to vent their frustration at regular Isle of Man Meat Plant failures.
They accused the plant of lacking a skilled workforce and having ‘No Leadership’.
Sourcing Manx Meat
In June, a local butcher took to social media to explain the difficulties he has faced in sourcing Manx meat from Isle of Man Meats.
After being let down multiple times by the meat plant, Lee Mayers felt that he’s been left with no other option than to bring meat in from across the Irish Sea.
Lee said: “I can’t keep turning customers away which has pushed me into bringing it in from across.”
Cattle from the Isle of Man are regularly being sent to meat plants in the UK due to the ‘huge waiting time’ to book into the IOM Government owned meat plant.
Lee added: “It might seem a long winded way of doing it but I can still get it here quicker from a meat plant across than the one 20mins up the road.”
6 Comments