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15 October 1998 ASDA CANCELS £2.5M ORDER FOR NEW ZEALAND LAMB _BY FWI STAFF_ ASDA has officially cancelled its entire winter order for New Zealand fresh lamb. After weeks of speculation, the
supermarket chain confirmed this afternoon that it will instead be buying £2.5 million worth of lamb from UK farmers. John Cleland, Asdas meat director, described the move as a
reinforcement of the supermarkets commitment to British farmers. “Sheep farmers have a had a bad year and are facing a very bleak winter,” said Mr Cleland. “We hope our decision to halt all
imports of fresh New Zealand will give them a welcome boost in the run-up to Christmas and into 1999.” Supermarkets usually stock New Zealand lamb to offset a shortage of UK supplies during
the winter months. But this year, the UK market is vastly oversupplied and domestic sheep prices have plummeted. * Back British beef with action, not words – FWi 28 April 1998 * Mixed
reception for sheep crisis measures – FWi Markets, 9 October, 1998