Sales of Brussels sprouts have spiked at Morrisons, surprising the retailer and growers alike.
Sales of brassicas have increased by nearly 70 per cent year on year over the past three months.
Andy Garton, director of produce and horticulture at the Yorkshire retailer, said: “Most people tend to associate sprouts with Christmas, but we’ve noticed our customers increasingly introducing them to other dishes throughout the year.”
Morrisons has an executive chef and head of innovation, Neil Nugent, who believes that salads have been playing a role in the upswing. “Lots of chefs are using them in salads such as coleslaws, just finely sliced and lightly dressed in lemon and olive oil,” said Nugent.
Brussels sprouts are imported at this time of year and Lincolnshire grower Roger Welberry said he imports from Morocco and South Africa. He told Freshinfo: “I am a little surprised at the increase, but maybe people are buying them [sprouts] instead of cauliflower and broccoli which have gone very dear. Also celebrity chefs have helped - sprouts are a versatile vegetable and it is good that more people are trying it different ways.”
Welberry echoed the concerns expressed recently (see FPJ 10 August) that UK-grown sprouts will be in short supply in the winter: “I think yields will be down 10-15 per cent, but the past week of good weather has got some of the good plants going… we won’t have the yields of last year though.”
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