Japanese rice dish, sushi, is now so popular that it has become the UK’s fastest-growing premium lunchtime meal.
Demand at Tesco has grown so much that sushi has replaced the smoked salmon sandwich as Britain’s favourite premium lunchtime treat.
Since the beginning of the year when Tesco launched its £5 Clubcard Meal Deal, sushi sales have rocketed by 90 per cent.
Included in the Premium deal, which offers shoppers a main, a drink and a snack, are a choice of sushi boxes, poke bowls and other pan-Asian delights such as gyozas and bao buns.
As a result of the extra demand, the supermarket now sells 21 million packs of sushi a year.
Tesco Food to Go Buying Manager Emma Williams said this was the first time the retailer ever put premium quality sushi in one of its meal deals, significantly making it more affordable and accessible for UK shoppers.
Demand has also been boosted by people returning to work, leading to restaurant group YO! opening more fresh sushi counters in Tesco stores across the UK.
“Sushi has never been more popular, and for a salmon poke bowl to overtake our previous top-selling premium lunchtime staple, the smoked salmon sandwich underlines that.”
One of the main reasons for sushi’s growing popularity is that it is a no-fuss snack that can be eaten on the go.
The Tesco Premium Meal Deal is available now in 1,100 stores, offering a range of quality options to suit all tastes for just £5 per head with a Clubcard or £5.50 without.
