15th Jan 2009 - 00:00
Abstract
Fish cakes – the height of culinary chic in the 1980s - are once again soaring in popularity according to statistics released today by Seafish.
The retail value of fish cakes has grown 24% year on year and is now enjoying stronger growth than trendy lunchtime favourite, sushi. Sales at Waitrose have increased by 55% in the past year, with the supermarket's smoked haddock pre-packed fish cakes seeing the biggest increase - 88% year on year. Karen Galloway, Market Planning Manager at Seafish, says: "Fish cakes are climbing in popularity due to the 'easy cook' factor and the attractive price tag to match. The return of this 'trendy' meal option has also been helped by the endorsement of celebrity chefs and the introduction of new flavours for the more discerning customer such as seabass, ginger and Thai-spiced varieties." Waitrose Fish Buyer, Jeremy Langley says: "Last week alone, Waitrose sold over seven tonnes of chilled fish cakes. Fish cakes are perfect for a mid week supper and can be served with a simple salad. They make an easy option for time-poor cooks who want to enjoy a filling and nutritious dinner with minimal effort."