The death knell has sounded for the traditional roast dinner.
Roast joints of beef, and lamb, pork have fallen out of the nation’s top five favourite meals for the first time.
Brits tucked into 157 million fewer roasts in the past year, pushing them into sixth place, according to new figures out on Saturday.
Roast joints of beef, and lamb, pork have fallen out of the nation’s top five favourite meals for the first time, with Brits tucking into 157 million fewer roasts in the past year
They were replaced in the top five by soup, which has traditionally been in decline.
Sandwiches remain the nation’s favourite food, eaten on an astonishing 5.8 billion occasions, said retail analysts Kantar Worldpanel.
Other favourites include fish and chips, a full English breakfast and desserts.
The biggest decline in roast dinners has come midweek as pensioners and families with young children move away from them.
Sandwiches remain the nation’s favourite food, eaten on an astonishing 5.8 billion occasions, said retail analysts Kantar Worldpanel
Midweek roasts are now served on 116 million fewer meal times than last year.
Darrell May, of poultry supplier Moy Park, told The Grocer magazine: ‘The weekday evening meal is very much subject to consumer need for speed and ease.
‘Dishes suash cas a traditional roast dinner which demand a longer cooking time are declining in popularity on weekday menus.’
TV chef Rachel Green told The Grocer: ‘Traditionalism is great, but the roast needs shaking up. People don’t have time for the full shebang.
‘Veg are becoming the star of the show – a roast doesn’t need to contain meat.We are stepping away to healthier, lighter and more flavourful roasts.
Traditional joints enjoyed a slight revival a few years ago as the meat industry started to sell mini roasts, which boosted sals of beef, lamb and pork joints by £18 million.
Roast chicken has seen the biggest drop in sales, eaten 45 million times less in the past year than the previous 12 months.
Industry experts say the decline is in the sale of whole chickens, although it remains the most popular type of roast.
Roast pork was served at 38 million fewer meals, said the research.
Matt Lee of retail media agency Capture said: ‘An increase in vegetarian and flexitarian trends is impacting the consumption of traditional roast dinners, where meat is the key ingredient.’
Experts said fish was also becoming more popular, particularly at big family occasions.
Other favourites include fish and chips, a full English breakfast and desserts