HESITANCY to gather in large groups to celebrate Australia Day due to the COVID-19 situation in SA was likely to cause a slide in meat sales for the annual event, according to Australian Meat Industry Council SA retail chair Trevor Hill.
Mr Hill owns several butcher shops across Adelaide and said demand in the lead up to Australia Day was solid but "nothing over the top".
"I just don't think people are game to go out in the current environment and celebrate," he said.
"No one wants to go into lockdown because they had a party."
The spread of products traditionally popular close to Australia Day had also changed this year, according to Mr Hill.
"Staples like mince were more popular in the lead up this year, because there is still the possibility of going into Covid lockdown or close contact lockdown so people are buying less 'celebration' or barbecue meats," he said.
Mike Platten has worked at Lyndoch Valley Butchers for two years and owned the shop since August last year.
He said January sales were up 40 per cent and the lead up to Australia Day had been steady, but he was not sure whether the sales increase was due to people seeking out local butchers rather than supermarkets, or an increased marketing push.
Mr Platten said the shop sold a lot of smallgoods and "bucket loads of bacon", while high end beef cuts and chicken were also popular.
"It changes a bit for Australia Day, with a lot of customers going for our lamb sausages and lamb chops," he said.
While Mr Hill said butchers had not experienced the meat supply issues experienced by supermarkets as yet, things were likely to tighten in coming weeks.
"Butchers tend to work a fair way in advance - a week or a week and a half of stock ahead - whereas supermarkets often work on 'just in time'," he said.
"In the supply regard we've been OK to date, but things are starting to get a bit tight in trying to locate the ready availability of stock."
The Brook Meat Store at Crystal Brook has avoided any supply headaches, with the vast majority of their livestock bought, fattened and killed locally.
Jocelyn Thomas and family, local farmers, bought the store two years ago when it was in danger of shutting permanently.
She said it was an important community institution and reduced the food miles of local livestock.
"We use as much meat off our own farm as we possibly can," Mrs Thomas said.
"We buy local lambs in and fatten them up.
"We're benefitting from the good spring we had, with good lucerne and good stubbles to feed them on."
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