Coronation predictions run true – celebrations centred around meat snacking

The nation loves to celebrate, and while the Coronation weekend didn’t provide the glorious weather hoped for the anticipated street parties and outdoor celebrations, it certainly didn’t put a dampener on festivities.

Despite continued price pressures consumers were keen to take advantage of the additional bank holiday, and as such latest data by Kantar reports grocery sales increased by 16% during the week of the coronation. This was helped by consumers looking to fill up their glasses with sparkling and still wine, as well as enthusiasm towards the official coronation quiche and treaty desserts which saw fresh cream sales soar by 80% (Kantar).

As predicted, meat snacking products performed well, and when compared with the average two week period in the 48 w/e 30 April 2023* sales of sausage rolls were up by 22%, pork pies increased by 20%, and cooked sausages and scotch eggs saw uplifts of 16% and 31% respectively (Kantar, 2 w/e 14 May 2023). Beef-based sliced cooked meats also saw an uplift, perhaps due to increased patriotism for quintessential British flavours such as roast beef and horseradish sandwiches.

Pork products were the star of the coronation weekend, the only red meat to see total category uplifts over the celebratory period according to latest data from Kantar. Products such as sausages, marinades, burgers and grills all saw uplifts. These products all have the ability to provide quick and tasty meals, and as with the meat snacking products the categories which saw greatest increase were those that would work equally well for outdoor eating at picnics, garden parties or BBQs when the weather allowed.

Unfortunately, lamb didn’t see the boost hoped for after being featured as an official coronation recipe at King Charles III lunch. However, this may be as consumers opted to celebrate Easter with this centre piece protein where it performed particularly well. Equally, with three bank holidays in the space of four weeks, tastes (and budgets) may have been looking for alternative ways to celebrate.

*excluding 2 weeks over the Christmas/New Year period, as well as the 2 weeks of the Platinum Jubilee