NFU seasonal poultry marketing meetings roundup

This year’s Seasonal Poultry Marketing Meetings brought together almost 100 producers from across the UK to reflect on the sector, network, ask questions and gain useful insights to take back to their seasonal poultry businesses. 

Kindly sponsored by Kelly Turkeys, ForFarmers and Massey Feeds, each event featured a feed and raw materials market presentation, an update regarding the policy work of the NFU, and a seasonal producer session offering an insight into a particular business and its sector outlook. In addition, the visits to Massey Feeds in Cheshire and ForFarmers in Staffordshire included a mill tour.

The events were also an opportunity to mobilise the sector ahead of this year’s #BuyMyTurkey Day which will take place on Friday 4 December.

This year’s #BuyMyTurkey campaign will look to build on the groundwork laid by the 500 years of turkey group as it celebrates 500 years of turkey in the UK with a variety of promotional and outreach activities over the coming months.

To find out more about how you can get involved with #BuyMyTurkey Day campaign, visit: New resources for Buy My Turkey Day 2026

As in previous years, the NFU presented estimated costs of producing and distributing a 5.5kg whole turkey. These indicative costings, gathered from a range of industry sources, are designed to guide and encourage producers to review their own figures in order to identify cost of production changes.  

This year’s figures indicate an increase in the total cost of production per bird of 2.6% from £50.83 in 2025 to £52.13 in 2026 with nearly every major cost component rising.  

Feed remains the largest direct input cost, increasing by 0.9% to £15.13 on the basis of August SPOT prices. This reflects a slight rise in raw material costs and continued uncertainty around energy and processing costs. Poult costs have increased by 4.0% to £6.44, although actual prices may vary considerably by supplier. Brooding and farming costs have also risen, driven by inflationary pressures and higher energy, labour and general operating costs.

Labour-related pressures are particularly significant. Plucking and evisceration costs have each increased by 4.2%, following the rise in the National Living Wage from £12.21 to £12.71, and it was noted that individual businesses may face larger increases where labour availability is limited or higher rates are required. It’s important that producers factor in the costs of their own labour. Any additional costs associated with using the seasonal poultry visa scheme are not incorporated into the model and must be factored in separately. 

Overheads have risen by 3.1% to £12.02, while distribution costs are up 1.7%. Packaging costs have been held at £2.50 for the purpose of this estimate, but it is noted that supplier and order timing could result in price differences.

It is critical to note that every business is different, and it is therefore important that producers examine their own figures in detail. Producers should therefore use the £52.13 total as a benchmark, then adjust it to reflect their own feed, labour, packaging, distribution and waste costs. 

Price changes