Compiled by Choose British Peas – a collective representing the United Kingdom frozen pea industry – the research indicated that young shoppers in particular have been hit the hardest.
The collective says that its figures illustrate the true impact of rampant food inflation across the United Kingdom, with almost two thirds (64%) of Brits now spending over £100 a month more on their food shops compared with last year.
Three in five 25–34-year-olds reported that their monthly food shops have increased by more than £120 in the last year, while nearly a quarter (23%) say they are now spending an extra £200 or more each month.
These seemingly never-ending cost pressures have kick-started some notable behavioural changes in shoppers, the group adds, with two in five Brits ditching branded items for supermarket-own alternatives, and a further third doing more batch cooking and meal prepping, or cooking simpler recipes to save money.
Meanwhile, another 31% are making the swap from fresh to frozen to bring down the cost of their food shop, with a quarter (24%) saying they are using frozen foods more in everyday cooking.
Peter Judge, spokesman for Choose British Peas, explained: “The scale of food inflation on households across the United Kingdom is undeniable, and shoppers are therefore becoming far more conscious about how they spend their money at the supermarket.
“What’s interesting is that many people aren’t just cutting back, they’re changing the way they cook and shop day to day, to adopt practical ways of making their weekly shop go further.”
He continued: “It’s especially encouraging to see more consumers turning to frozen foods, because the data suggests that once shoppers make the switch from fresh to frozen, it often becomes part of their everyday cooking habits rather than a one-off cost-saving measure.
“Many are clearly recognising the wider benefits frozen can offer beyond affordability alone. Frozen vegetables such as peas are picked and frozen very quickly after harvest – often within just 2.5 hours – which helps lock in nutrients and freshness, while also offering the convenience and flexibility that busy households crave. Not only this, but frozen produce can also help reduce the amount of fresh food being thrown away at home, helping shoppers make their food go further and cut down on unnecessary waste.”
