Waitrose lamb

What's special about Waitrose lamb?

With Lamb being a seasonal meat, Waitrose aim to offer the the quality lamb that is "Best in Season". Our lamb comes from dedicated farmers in the UK and New Zealand, many of whom have supplied us exclusively for over ten years. It's reared on open pastures (with shelter for harsh weather), supplemented with hay or root crops when grass is in short supply. Every farm works to the highest standards of quality, food safety and animal welfare, and we can trace all our lamb back to the group of farms where it was reared. We apply the same high standards all the way from the farm to the counter: all the lambs are under 12 months old, and the meat is carefully matured on the bone to further enhance the tenderness and flavour , then hand-cut by skilled butchers, using traditional butchery methods.

How can you provide fresh lamb all year round?

Because lamb is reared naturally on grass and breeding is once a year, it's a seasonal food, and most British lamb is born in the spring. Luckily, the New Zealand season starts as the main UK season tails off, and we also stock some English lamb from breeds which naturally breed outside the main season. Waitrose choose to work closely with farmers and thus have developed dedicated "Waitrose Farmer Groups" throughout the UK and New Zealand. Waitrose reward these farmers with prices above market rates for producing quality lamb to high welfare and care. This gives our farmers confidence to continue to invest substainable businesses. Our customers are rewarded with a consistent quality with the confidence of where their lamb comes from. Waitrose Buyers enjoy meeting with our dedicated farmers, sharing information and knowledge on a regular basis.

Why do Waitrose sell New Zealand lamb in the winter?

New Zealand lamb is "In Season" at this time of year due to the contrasting seasons to the UK. Combined with the "In season" UK lamb it contributes to maintaining a quality lamb offering for our customers all year round.

But there are British lambs in the fields in the winter, why does Waitrose not take them?

Many of the lambs we see in the fields in the winter are female lambs which the farmers are rearing as replacement breeding sheep for the forthcoming years. For the majority of farms, grass (a sheep’s main diet) is in shorter supply due to the cold winter climate. Most of the lambs destined for slaughter have already "gone to market" and so the priority is to feed the available grass to the adult sheep carrying the next seasons crop of lambs.

Do Waitrose offer customers a choice of fresh UK lamb over the winter period?

Waitrose does offer a choice of UK lamb on our Service Counters all year round by sourcing lamb from the West Country of England which has a mild climate where the grass grows for longer periods. Waitrose also sells Dorset Breed lamb at this period as the Dorset Breed sheep have their lambs in September - October meaning they are ready for sale February - May as the first "New Seasons" lamb.

What do the UK lamb farmers think of Waitrose selling New Zealand lamb?

They understand and approve, as they know that in the winter months it is difficult to supply lamb that meets the high standard they achieve with their "In Season" lamb. They see their New Zealand farming counterparts as partners in maintaining Waitrose customer demand for lamb, and in turn the demand for their lamb will remain high when the UK season returns. A number of our Welsh and New Zealand farmers have visited each others countries on organised study tours, forming friendships and sharing knowledge on how to improve their farming businesses.

Does Waitrose support the UK farmers?

Waitrose definitely does. This is unrivalled and has been consistent over many years ensuring farmers are properly rewarded through good times and bad. Particularly so in 2007 when Waitrose strengthened its support to our dedicated farmers by paying prices that have exceeded the current market returns for lamb throughout a challenging season . Waitrose responsible approach to its farmers has been applauded by the lamb/beef and pork industries as a role model for other meat buyers, namely - NFU (National Farmers Union),NSA (National Sheep Association),HCC (Welsh Meat Promotions) and EBLEX (English Beef and Lamb Executive).
Many of the UK farmers supplying Waitrose have expressed their gratitude for our support.

British lamb

Our Prepacked British lamb is naturally reared on known farms in England and Wales, and specially chosen for its sweet flavour. It's seasonal availablity is from June to December in selected branches.

English lamb

This comes from breeds reared by a small group of farmers in the south and south-west of England. These areas have milder climates and with a longer grass growing season. English lamb is available all year round from the service counter.

West Country lamb

This comes from breeds reared by a small group of farmers in the English West Country. These areas have milder climates and with a longer grass growing season. West Country lamb is available all year on the the service counter in selected West Country and London branches.

Dorset Breed lamb

Only Waitrose sell "Dorset Breed" lamb (the lamb is from Dorset Breed ewes and/or rams). It is a traditional English Breed of sheep (many of the breeds are named after counties of England) that,unlike most other breed, naturally breeds throughout the year. Waitrose Dorset Breed lambs are born in autumn, so they provide the first 'new season' British lamb of the year. The Dorset Breed farmers farm across the South and South West of England (not just Dorset county!). Known for its rich flavour, their meat is available from the service counter in selected branches from February to June.

Welsh lamb

Our Welsh lamb has PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status, meaning that it is wholly reared and prepared in Wales. Welsh lamb is renowned for its full flavour, thanks to the rich grass farmlands it's reared on. Ours comes from a group of around 250 farmers, some of who've supplied us since 1993. It's available prepacked from May to Early January in selected branches.

Organic Welsh lamb

This is lamb born, reared and processed in Wales, from a select group of over 50 farmers, on farms registered to the UK Organic certiication bodies. It's available prepacked in selected branches from late spring to early winter.

New Zealand lamb

New Zealand's contrasting seasons make a perfect fit with the UK lamb season. Waitrose have been working with a group of over 200 farmers in New Zealand for a number of years, to supply lamb to the same standards of welfare and care as our UK farmers. Internationally famous for its tenderness and sweet flavour, Waitrose New Zealand lamb is available prepacked, from December (when the UK season is tailing off) to Early June.

Organic New Zealand lamb

This lamb is reared to standards set down by the New Zealand organic certification bodies, which are accredited by the UK Soil Association. It's available prepacked, from late January to May and links in with the Welsh Organic Lamb season.

Frozen New Zealand lamb

Reared to the same standards as our chilled New Zealand lamb, the meat is matured for tenderness, and then quickly frozen to lock in the flavour. It's available all year round in our frozen cabinets.

Try these lamb recipes: