UK: Fresh potato consumption levels hit by higher prices

Brits ate nearly 8% fewer fresh potatoes in 2013 than in 2012, as soaring retail prices and increased demand for tinned and convenience formats took their toll. Although the total value of the fresh potato category went up 21.5% to £1.4bn in 2013, this was purely the result of higher prices at the tills – consumption plummeted, with volumes down 7.9% year on year to 1.5 million tonnes [Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 8 December 2013]. At the same time, volume sales of tinned potatoes soared 19.2% year on year to 18,393 tonnes. More