Agriculture and farming are industries easily influenced by outside forces – from the climate to the economy and the shifting tastes of the end consumer, staying current in this business requires expert knowledge, experience, and innovation.
LYNCA MEATS began as a family business in 1988 and has since grown into one of the country’s largest and most trusted pork producers. Supplying supermarkets, butcheries and retailers throughout the country, we employ over 1200 people in three factories – supplying some of the country’s top foodservice businesses with primal cuts and processed pork products. Despite a strong history and loyal customer base, LYNCA is no more immune to changes in the market than any other producer. One thing we can however do is respond to the influences we forecast year on year, and 2022 proves to be filled with both challenges and opportunities for a number of reasons.
In the Factory: The Continuing Impact of COVID-19
Though many businesses are still struggling under the pandemic’s impact, many farmers and producers have been able to adapt to the uncertainty.
“Because LYNCA MEATS encompasses the entire chain, from abattoir, deboning, primal cuts, processed products, cold store and distribution, we are able to maintain a high level of service throughout the lockdown”, said Brent Fairlie, LYNCA MEATS CEO.
With hygiene of its facilities being a top priority throughout various listeriosis scares over the years, LYNCA MEATS was well-positioned for the tightening of safety protocols that came with the lockdowns. Biosecurity remains a top priority not only in 2022, but an on-going key area of focus in this industry.
“We face similar risks on a daily basis with the likes of Listeriosis, salmonella and the global proliferation of diseases, so strict procedures and food safety systems are in place to manage these types of risks. Furthermore, a COVID policy is just an extension of these procedures within our working environment, with all the sanitisation, chemicals, cleaning and protective equipment” said Fairlie.
In the Foodservice Industry: Snout-to-Tail Dining
The concept of a more conscious, ethical and waste-free relationship with what we eat is nothing new. Some of the world’s finest restaurants are serving up not only delicacies like pork belly and tenderloin, but also more exotic cuts that get their patrons excited about new flavours.
“The trend continues worldwide, and as a nation who has always enjoyed offal delicacies’ like tripe and trotters, we can safely predict that the South African market will also be consuming other cuts like kidneys and liver, cheeks and marrow-bones”.
“The great thing about pork is that no part gets wasted and there is a use for everything”, said Fairlie. “In South Africa we are lucky to have such a diverse population with differing tastes and cultures, so with 10 people in a room, you will get 10 different answers as to which is the best pork cut, and of course how to cook it.”
In the Home: More Conscious Eating and Shopping
The way the South African consumer approaches their shopping list and their menu at home is driven by many factors, and although people in general are trending toward eating less meat, demand for pork remains high, driven in part by exceptional value compared to beef, and greater versatility compared to chicken.
Whether consuming less meat or not, all consumers are more aware and more invested in the quality of the meat they eat than ever before. Ethical farming, good hygiene standards and humane treatment of animals are all set to be a priority for both producers and consumers in 2022 as well as the following years.
The Bottom Line
Even through these unprecedented challenges, pork remains the world’s most widely enjoyed meat, and its versatility and attractive price point mean that South Africans are following suit. From the lunchbox to the frying pan to the braai or potjie, pork has a home on the table of millions of South Africans, now and far into the future. Whatever the future holds, LYNCA MEATS will remain committed to upholding our reputation through innovative best practice across all aspects of our business.
