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| Frozen food beating fresh as shoppers seek savings | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Laura Tedder is stocking up on frozen food for her three children | Laura Tedder is stocking up on frozen food for her three children |
| Consumers are swapping from fresh to frozen food in a bid to combat rising grocery prices, retailers have said. | Consumers are swapping from fresh to frozen food in a bid to combat rising grocery prices, retailers have said. |
| Frozen food is outperforming fresh in supermarkets at the moment, data from research firm Kantar suggests. | Frozen food is outperforming fresh in supermarkets at the moment, data from research firm Kantar suggests. |
| Frozen chicken, ready meals, pizzas and chips are the most popular items. | Frozen chicken, ready meals, pizzas and chips are the most popular items. |
| These are some of the things mum-of-three Laura Tedder told the BBC she chooses to help keep her food bill down. "We're buying much more frozen food. We can't afford fresh," she said. | These are some of the things mum-of-three Laura Tedder told the BBC she chooses to help keep her food bill down. "We're buying much more frozen food. We can't afford fresh," she said. |
| Mrs Tedder is not alone. The British Retail Consortium said consumers are making the same "swaps to save money" as the cost of living rises. | Mrs Tedder is not alone. The British Retail Consortium said consumers are making the same "swaps to save money" as the cost of living rises. |
| Waitrose, M&S and Iceland all told the BBC frozen food is rising in popularity, while Tesco has also seen shoppers switching from fresh to frozen. | Waitrose, M&S and Iceland all told the BBC frozen food is rising in popularity, while Tesco has also seen shoppers switching from fresh to frozen. |
| "Frozen food tends to be much cheaper, and there's less waste, so you can see why it's selling well in the cost of living crisis," said retail analyst Ged Futter. | "Frozen food tends to be much cheaper, and there's less waste, so you can see why it's selling well in the cost of living crisis," said retail analyst Ged Futter. |
| Why are prices rising so much? | Why are prices rising so much? |
| Deal hunters go to supermarkets four times a week | Deal hunters go to supermarkets four times a week |
| Five hacks to help save money on your food shop | Five hacks to help save money on your food shop |
| Mrs Tedder, from Ampthill in Bedfordshire, has to keep an eye how much she's spending at the supermarket. | Mrs Tedder, from Ampthill in Bedfordshire, has to keep an eye how much she's spending at the supermarket. |
| "When you have a lot of kids to feed, it all adds up," she said. | "When you have a lot of kids to feed, it all adds up," she said. |
| She often finds herself comparing fresh versus frozen prices for items like chicken and has been buying a lot more frozen vegetables in recent months. | She often finds herself comparing fresh versus frozen prices for items like chicken and has been buying a lot more frozen vegetables in recent months. |
| She also uses frozen fruit to make smoothies for her daughters - Millie, aged 10, Pip, nine and Ottilie, six. | She also uses frozen fruit to make smoothies for her daughters - Millie, aged 10, Pip, nine and Ottilie, six. |
| In the past, she bought fresh food as she believed it was nutritionally better for her children. | In the past, she bought fresh food as she believed it was nutritionally better for her children. |
| "Now I'm more worried about the sweets my kids eat, rather than the meals I cook them," she said. | "Now I'm more worried about the sweets my kids eat, rather than the meals I cook them," she said. |
| Lindsay Hawkshaw says her family eat frozen food as it's cheaper | Lindsay Hawkshaw says her family eat frozen food as it's cheaper |
| Lindsay Hawkshaw from County Durham has also been stocking up on frozen chicken, rice and waffles for her three children. | Lindsay Hawkshaw from County Durham has also been stocking up on frozen chicken, rice and waffles for her three children. |
| "It's cheaper than fresh, and there's less waste, so it's a no brainer when we're counting pennies," she said. | "It's cheaper than fresh, and there's less waste, so it's a no brainer when we're counting pennies," she said. |
| She said she had noticed more supermarket deals on frozen food. | She said she had noticed more supermarket deals on frozen food. |
| "It's not ideal," she said. "Fresh tastes better, there's no doubt about that." | "It's not ideal," she said. "Fresh tastes better, there's no doubt about that." |
| "But the packaging says it's frozen immediately so I think that dispels the myth of it being less healthy," she said. | "But the packaging says it's frozen immediately so I think that dispels the myth of it being less healthy," she said. |
| Mr Futter said frozen food "has had a bad rep for years" but the quality "is actually really high". | Mr Futter said frozen food "has had a bad rep for years" but the quality "is actually really high". |
| "Whether it's peas, potatoes or fish - a lot of the time, it's even better for you, as these items are frozen the minute they're ready, whereas fresh items can sometimes be sitting out for longer," he said. | "Whether it's peas, potatoes or fish - a lot of the time, it's even better for you, as these items are frozen the minute they're ready, whereas fresh items can sometimes be sitting out for longer," he said. |
| Cost of living concerns | Cost of living concerns |
| In the supermarkets, frozen food is doing "notably better" than fresh at the moment, Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar UK, told the BBC. | In the supermarkets, frozen food is doing "notably better" than fresh at the moment, Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar UK, told the BBC. |
| "And some of that is clearly to do with the cost of living," he added. | "And some of that is clearly to do with the cost of living," he added. |
| Kantar's data, seen by the BBC, shows that demand is strongest for items such as frozen chicken, where volumes are up 5.9%. Meanwhile, frozen prepared foods, including ready meals, pizzas and chips are up 2.6%. | Kantar's data, seen by the BBC, shows that demand is strongest for items such as frozen chicken, where volumes are up 5.9%. Meanwhile, frozen prepared foods, including ready meals, pizzas and chips are up 2.6%. |
| Overall, frozen food volumes have held steady, even though overall shoppers are buying less. In the 12 weeks to mid-March, total grocery volumes fell by 4% while the volume of frozen goods bought was unchanged, the data shows. | Overall, frozen food volumes have held steady, even though overall shoppers are buying less. In the 12 weeks to mid-March, total grocery volumes fell by 4% while the volume of frozen goods bought was unchanged, the data shows. |
| 'Budget friendly' | 'Budget friendly' |
| Waitrose said its frozen food range had been rising in popularity while customers keep tabs on their budgets. | Waitrose said its frozen food range had been rising in popularity while customers keep tabs on their budgets. |
| M&S told the BBC it was seeing more customers opt for frozen vegetables and frozen herbs, which it said are "a great value choice". | M&S told the BBC it was seeing more customers opt for frozen vegetables and frozen herbs, which it said are "a great value choice". |
| Richard Walker, executive chairman of Iceland Foods, said frozen food unlocks "many benefits" to consumers, adding: "More shoppers are waking up to this more budget friendly option during these challenging economic times." | Richard Walker, executive chairman of Iceland Foods, said frozen food unlocks "many benefits" to consumers, adding: "More shoppers are waking up to this more budget friendly option during these challenging economic times." |
| Fresh food inflation hit 17% in March, up from 16.3% in February, according to the British Retail Consortium, marking its highest rate since records began in 2005. | Fresh food inflation hit 17% in March, up from 16.3% in February, according to the British Retail Consortium, marking its highest rate since records began in 2005. |
| Many of the country's largest supermarkets recently experienced shortages of some salad items and vegetables, which helped push prices up further. | Many of the country's largest supermarkets recently experienced shortages of some salad items and vegetables, which helped push prices up further. |
| Kate Hall says freezing food helps reduce food waste | Kate Hall says freezing food helps reduce food waste |
| Mum-of-two Kate Hall from Bromley set up a website, The Full Freezer, to advise people how to save money and reduce waste by using their freezer properly. | Mum-of-two Kate Hall from Bromley set up a website, The Full Freezer, to advise people how to save money and reduce waste by using their freezer properly. |
| She said she's had much more engagement in the last six months, as living costs soared. | She said she's had much more engagement in the last six months, as living costs soared. |
| "People are getting over their fear of frozen food, and that's a good thing," she said. | "People are getting over their fear of frozen food, and that's a good thing," she said. |
| Mrs Hall freezes everything from cashew nuts to eggs. She also freezes red wine, to use for cooking. | Mrs Hall freezes everything from cashew nuts to eggs. She also freezes red wine, to use for cooking. |
| "You can freeze leftovers, it can be as simple as putting a spare onion in the freezer, and then using that later to make a soup. | "You can freeze leftovers, it can be as simple as putting a spare onion in the freezer, and then using that later to make a soup. |
| "There's much less food waste if you use your freezer effectively, and that's something people are really conscious of right now." | "There's much less food waste if you use your freezer effectively, and that's something people are really conscious of right now." |
| How can I save money on my food shop? | How can I save money on my food shop? |
| Look at your cupboards so you know what you have already | Look at your cupboards so you know what you have already |
| Head to the reduced section first to see if it has anything you need | Head to the reduced section first to see if it has anything you need |
| Buy things close to their sell-by-date which will be cheaper and use your freezer | Buy things close to their sell-by-date which will be cheaper and use your freezer |
| Read more tips here | Read more tips here |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Retailing | Retailing |
| Inflation | Inflation |
| Cost of living | Cost of living |
| Supermarkets | Supermarkets |
| Food | Food |
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