Tesco is doubling its range of chilli peppers starting this week, in line with unprecedented demand.

The multiple is increasing the range from five different varieties to 10 in response to a 42 per cent sales increase across UK retail over the past two years, documented by TNS.

The Tesco range now includes the legendary world’s hottest chilli, Dorset Naga.

Tesco chilli buyer Sam Wright said Tesco is turning to increasing numbers of UK growers to source the product as well as imports: “In the last few years, we have seen phenomenal demand for really hot chilli peppers and from once being a cult food sold mainly in areas with high ethnic populations, it is now popular across the UK.”

Tesco’s biggest seller in the chilli sub-category is Scotch Bonnet or Habanero and when Dorset Naga was trialled last year, it sold out within a week.

The other new chillies being added this week are UK-grown Cherry Bomb and Jalapeño, Traffic Light and a range of mild chillies for stuffing.

Topics