Brits eating more fish, nuts, popcorn, free-from foods

31 May 2017

According to Mintel’s British Lifestyles report, fish, nuts, popcorn and free-from foods were all rising stars in the in-home food category in 2016 as Brits continue to jump on the health wagon.

According to Mintel’s British Lifestyles report, fish, nuts, popcorn and free-from foods were all rising stars in the in-home food category in 2016 as Brits continue to jump on the health wagon. Sales of chilled fish and shellfish grew by 3% in 2016, while sales of free-from foods rose by 16%, popcorn popped by 10% and nuts grew by 3%. On the other hand, pasta, pre-packed bread and processed poultry and meat all saw declining sales in 2016 due to their perceived negative health implications. While sales of pasta fell by 4% in 2016, pre-packed bread sales were sliced by 10% and processed poultry and red meat were carved by 4%.

Mintel research shows Brits eating habits are changing. One in three (33%) say they have tried eating less meat, while half (50%) of those who eat fish say that for health reasons they are eating more of this than a few years ago. What’s more over one in five (22%) are limiting their carbohydrate intake, with 20% of users regularly substituting pasta, rice and noodles with vegetables in the style of familiar carbohydrates. Bread use in particular is going stale with just a third (34%) of Brits saying they had eaten packaged sliced bread at least once a day in 2016, down from 47% in 2014.

The upcoming 2018 soft drinks levy means that there’s no let-up in the war on sugar. Almost a quarter (23%) of non-alcoholic drinks launched in the UK in 2016 carried a low, no or reduced sugar claim, up from 15% in 2011.

The focus on sugar reduction is helping to drive growth in the bottled water market. Half (48%) of bottled water drinkers say that concerns over sugar prompted them to switch, with sales growing by 9% in 2016 to £2.2 billion.