According to data analysis by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), sausage rolls have been “flying out the doors” of cafes and bakeries.
AHDB analysed Kantar data of the 52 weeks ended 29th December 2024, and attributed the sausage roll sales to strong value for money offerings and an increasing demand for snacks and convenient on-the-go meals. Similarly, it observed that restaurants offering a more “leisurely” dining experience also saw a surge in growth, which it said was due to an uptick in people getting together socially at mealtimes.
Despite a 6.6% price increase, pork dishes saw an 8.3% year-on-year increase in volume for bakery channels. Popularity in the snacking market is “highly beneficial” for the pork sector, AHDB analysis showed, making up 42.5% of total pork dish volume sales. Sandwiches and savoury pastries, such as sausage rolls and bacon butties, are “key dishes” driving this performance.
According to Kantar, fast food outlets and quick service restaurants are losing share, fuelled by growing health consciousness among consumers, and a sharp price hike of 9.4%. While beef is typically associated with “whopping sales” in this sector, said AHDB, due to its strong presence in fast food meals (70.3% of all quick service restaurant burger meals), beef burgers lost share last year, and instead lamb gained momentum.
Fast food retailers now account for 67.9% of total lamb dish volume, underlining the channel’s importance for the protein. This boost was particularly seen for kebabs, which had a 20.2% year-on-year volume increase.
Sales growth for sit down restaurants also benefits the lamb sector, accounting for 15.8% of total out-of-home lamb volumes in 2024. AHDB found that meat-centred hearty meals and Indian cuisine were the main contributors, and total spend for lamb dishes increased by 10.1% last year.
“Ensuring red meat products remain prominent for on-the-go and snack opportunities is crucial.”
Elisya Zain, AHDB
AHDB retail and consumer insight analyst Elisya Zain said: “It’s great to see a strong performance from red meat in the eating out market. Convenience and value for money are increasingly important to consumers; therefore, ensuring red meat products remain prominent for on-the-go and snack opportunities is crucial.
“Consumers are also looking to treat themselves now more than ever when dining out, so it’s essential for red meat dishes to communicate quality and exclusivity. AHDB research has shown that quality cues for red meat on menus are beneficial, such as signalling British or local sourcing, while foodie images and detailed dish descriptions reinforce taste perceptions.”
