Sales surge at Easter

THE Easter retail period this year experienced the highest UK sales of fresh fish in three years, according to new market data from Seafish.

A total of 6,051 tonnes of seafood was sold during the Easter fortnight from April 8-22, up by almost 188 tonnes, or 3.2 per cent over the past two years.

The market was boosted by good value options such as warm water prawns, basa, haddock, cod, crabstick, plaice, trout and whitebait, which have all proved popular over Easter, increasing their volume sales from both the previous fortnight and the Easter period last year, which was earlier, running from March 19 to April 2.

Replicating consumption trends at Christmas, fresh fish topped the segments in terms of increasing volume sales (0.3 per cent) and sales value (7.6 per cent) on Easter 2016 sales, with total sales at more than £85 million.

In comparison to the fortnight before Easter, volume sales increased by 1.4 per cent, while sales value rose by 4.1 per cent.

The frozen sector saw volume sales grow by 0.2 per cent and value rise by 5.8 per cent to £28.5 million, compared to Easter last year.

When compared with the two weeks before Easter, an increase was seen across all measures – sales value increased 4.2 per cent and volume by 0.6 per cent.