BBQ beauties!

The Irish summer may be unpredictable, but retailers can be sure that once the sun comes out, barbecues nationwide will get fired up In the 12 weeks to 15 May 2022, Kantar Ireland saw sales of BBQ meats, like burgers and sausages, and prepared salads jump 2% and 8% respectively Meanwhile using data for the 12 weeks to 12 June 2022, Kantar Ireland reported the combination of a bank holiday weekend and the start of barbecue season meant shoppers spent an additional €575,000 more on burgers and grilling food last June than they did the previous month. It won’t be long now before consumers start stocking up on their barbecue basics. As Safefood’s Dr Gary

A fresh look at boosting BBQ sales

Florette, the best selling salad brand, can help Irish retailers meet shopper demand this summer with its delicious range of fresh preprepared salad bags.

Kearney, pointed out last summer: “Cooking on a barbecue is one of those occasions we all look forward to – of those who cook on a barbecue, almost two in three (65%) do so during the summer or whenever the weather is good enough.”

According to research from Mintel, American cuisine has well and truly found a home in stomachs this side of the Atlantic, and the more subtle nuances of “fired” and “charred” BBQ flavours, for instance, now present further opportunities for brands. “Fired” dishes can also play a role in catering to the current interest in health. For example, charring vegetables is thought to bring out flavours consumers may not have experienced before,

“As we step into the summer months and BBQ season, lighter eating with a fresh accompaniment becomes a staple for consumers, which can be a real benefit to Florette and retailers,” says Martin Purdy, commercial and marketing director at Florette.

“The impact of rising inflation and the costof-living crisis means people are increasingly spending more money on eating and entertaining at home instead of eating out. This means the BBQ occasion will become a big opportunity for retailers this summer

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for brands and products they can trust to deliver great tasting meals. Retailers can tap into this by using brands like Florette to provide a ‘mix and match’ BBQ bundle with grill-ready options, fresh side dish accompaniments and drinks multipacks. This creates an appealing value proposition for shoppers who would otherwise opt to buy cheaper products (31%), prepare fewer options (19%) or ask guests to bring a contribution to the meal (26%)*.”

Florette offers a range of pre-prepared salad products which are ideally-suited to the BBQ occasion, including the top selling products in Ireland – Florette Duo Lambs Lettuce & Ruby adding variety to salads and vegetable side dishes.

Research conducted by Bounce Insights for Tesco earlier this year also shows many are opting for the BBQ to cook their steak to perfection*. One top tip said: “Dad barbecues the steak by adding rosemary and garlic which is always the best way!”. While others said, “My husband’s BBQ steaks are the most succulent and mouth-watering on the planet.” And “My partner enjoys cooking steaks, he will always cook them on the BBQ. As he enjoys the process so much, seasoning, grilling, etc. I leave it up to him.”

*(Source: Research conducted by Bounce Insights, commissioned by Tesco Ireland between the 6- 7 February 2023, surveyed 1,012 adults)

Chard, a mix of mild sweet lambs lettuce with vibrant earthy ruby chard and Florette Bistro, a tasty mix of tender baby leaves and crunchy beetroot.

*(Source: IGD Research. Shopper Vista. Shoppers who regularly host a BBQ or picnic July 2022)