In numbers: Top trends from the Waitrose Food and Drink Report 2016

From the boom in healthy eating and free-from ranges to the explosion of food photography on social media outlets like Instagram, Retail Week takes a closer look at the key facts and figures from this year’s instalment.

Trends

• 10: The top ten “in favour” food products in 2016 were seaweed, churros, wonky vegetables, cactus water, seeds and grains, charred food, coconut flour, picanha Brazilian rump steak, bao buns and ‘veggan’ – that’s vegan, with eggs.
• 43%: Sales of free-from foods across the grocery sector are set to soar 43% to £673m by 2020.
• 1 in 8: The number of food products launched in the UK during 2015 that were gluten free.
• 1 in 5: The number of people who have shared an image of their food on social media, or sent a picture to a friend, within the past month.
• 6: The six food and drinks products that are predicted to fly off the shelves in 2016 are lighter options, vegetable yoghurts, meal kits, watermelon water, perfume-inspired cocktails and Polynesian foods – including the raw fish salad, Hawaiian poke.

How we shop

• 87%: The percentage of consumers who sometimes or always use a shopping list when buying groceries.
• 9pm: The most popular time for people to do their online shopping at Waitrose.
• 51%: The proportion of people who shop for food two or three times per week. Around 35% shop for groceries once a week and 7% say they do so every day.
• 1 in 3: The number of people who don’t have a preferred day to do their grocery shopping.
• 12%: The portion of our average income that is spent on food and drink, down from 17% in 1996.

Conscious consumers

• 71%: The proportion of shoppers who say that eating healthy and looking after themselves is “part of who they are.”
• 46%: The ratio of consumers who said they throw away less food than they did five years ago.
• 34%: The percentage of shoppers who say they freeze more food now than they did five years ago.

Lunchtime lowdown

• 1 in 3: The number of workers who spend less than £1 on their lunch each day.
• 5%: The increase in sandwich sales this year. Prawn mayonnaise and ham and cheese are the two most popular fillings.
• 20%: The spike in sushi sales over the past year.
• 1 in 5: The number of people who eat chocolate at lunchtime.
• 50%: Half of workers regularly include a piece of fruit in their lunch. Teachers and those over the age of 35 are most committed to getting their five a day.

Seasonal sales

• 47%: The spike in the number of low or no-alcohol drink options that were available in the last weekend of January, as the dry January phenomenon continues to gain traction.
• 40%: The jump in Guinness sales in March ahead of St Patrick’s Day.
• 165%: The spike in sales of mini hot cross buns at Easter, as shoppers continue to opt for smaller treats.
• 104%: Rose is the alcoholic drink of the summer, as sales more than doubled during August.