Baked beans, chocolate and crumpets: data reveals food Brits are consuming during lockdown
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As humans, we’re creatures of comfort. Never has this been so evident than during lockdown.
As we push through week six of the UK’s coronavirus-enforced lockdown, our early, optimistic days of making everything - notably sourdough and banana bread - from scratch has given way to convenience (mainly as finding flour currently is like finding a block of gold, severely hindering any baking efforts).
According to new data from British Corner Shop - which sells British food to expats around the globe - it seems we’ve turned to comfort food in a time of crisis, with Heinz Baked Beans and Warburtons crumpets listed as the most popular foods sold between February 1 and April 20, 2020 in the UK.
Crumpets have seen a 55 per cent increase in sales on the site compared to the same time period in 2019, while the sale of beans is up by 44 per cent.
The 10 most-wanted items by Brits from the British Corner Shop
1. Heinz Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce (up by 44 per cent)
2. Warburtons Crumpets 6 Pack (up by 55 per cent)
3. Cadbury Creme Egg (up by 127 per cent)
4. Pause & Refresh Antibacterial Lemon Hand Gel (Didn’t sell it in 2019)
5. McDougalls Plain Flour (up by 14,201 per cent)
6. Bisto Gravy Granules (up by 122 per cent)
7. Dettol Antiseptic (up by 2,569 per cent)
8. Hipp Organic First Infant Milk Ready to Use (up by 5,396 per cent)
9. McDougalls Self Raising Flour (up by 2,615 per cent)
10. Cadburys Flake 4 Pack (up by 217 per cent)
Cadbury Creme Eggs, Bisto gravy and Cadbury Flakes also appear in the top 10.
Unsurprisingly, antibacterial hand gel has also been a popular item, with sales of Dettol antiseptic spray up by 2,569 per cent compared to the same time last year. The demand for flour has also risen, as the online store notes it's seen a 14,201 per cent increase in demand during the last two months.
Mark Callaghan, managing director at British Corner Shop, said: “We have seen a real increase in the comfort foods which remind people of home – even from those who are living within the UK.
“We’ve also seen an increase in the number of customers in the UK and abroad who are sending care packages containing products like chocolate, soup and crumpets to loved ones in isolation. Proving that food is not only a huge comfort during a crisis, but people believe sending it is a great way to show you care and stay connected.”
