Wet weather takes bite out of burger sales

BURGER sales have shrivelled by a quarter due to a lack of barbecue weather and a switch to veggie alternatives.

The fall is equivalent to a reduction of £8million in sales in three months.

Many supermarkets have been promoting healthier vegetable alternatives such as burgers made with beetroot, quinoa and mushrooms.

Some 28 per cent of Britons say they have cut back on meat consumption over the past six months, according to a study by retail analysts Mintel.

As many as one in five under the age of 25 say they do not eat red meat or poultry, rising to one in four women in this age group. The main reasons given are concerns for health, the environment and animal welfare.

Fraser McKevitt, of Kantar Worldpanel, a company that monitors shoppers’ behaviour, said poor weather was the main reason for the fall in sales.

He said: ‘Although generally we’re seeing falling meat consumption – over a third of all evening meals are now meat free – the dip in burger sales over the past month is a result of the poor weather. That said, patties now face tougher competition on the shelves.’