A recent report from Mintel revealed that British diners are set to eat £7.5bn worth of burgers and chicken in 2019, with healthy and sustainable manufacturing methods playing a key role in this rise.
Some 37% of consumers are now ordering home deliveries more often from chicken outlets restaurants than they did in 2018, according to the data.
Those who have stable household finances are also now more likely to be enjoying chicken-based meals. This rise coincides with the views of consumers and manufacturers that poultry offers a healthier alternative to other meats.
“An improvement in the animal welfare of chickens is helping to attract a more affluent clientele to chicken restaurants and outlets, with chicken meals typically costing more than other fast food choices,” said Trish Caddy, senior foodservice analyst at Mintel.
Guilt-free indulgence
“The guilt-free indulgence of healthier, free-range chicken has clearly met affluent consumers’ value expectations, even if better chicken costs more than a burger. Well-off Brits' love for chicken also suits other food trends, such as eating more high-protein foods. This includes boneless chicken snacks such as bite-sized chicken fillets with dipping sauces, which are great for on-the-go consumption.”
The news was welcomed by the British Poultry Council, which told Food Manufacture that this would support additional growth for poultry producers in the coming years.
“It is important that manufacturers keep up with this demand,” Shraddha Kaul, public affairs and public relations manager at the BPC, told Food Manufacture.
The nation’s favourite meat
“Poultry is the nation’s favourite meat and its popularity is growing, with each of us eating around 23kg of chicken every year.
“It is a great source of protein, enjoyed by many as part of a nutritionally balanced diet and we want to ensure that British poultry meat continues to be affordable and available for the average consumer. The UK poultry meat industry meets the growing consumer demand by producing food to high standards from farm to fork and providing a number of products at a wide range of price points.”
