Brits abroad stock up the suitcase with ‘saucy’ treats
Brit’s heading abroad this summer are ensuring they don’t miss their home comfort food and drink by packing British Food brands alongside their sun cream.
Nearly two thirds of Brit’s admit to packing food items in their suitcases when travelling abroad, with the majority admitting they struggle to find their favourite brands when in a foreign country. A further 48% of savvy sun worshippers claim it’s to avoid succumbing to extortionate prices found in foreign supermarkets for British brands.
The survey, commissioned by The Co-operative Food, also shows that Brown Sauce is more popular amongst travellers than Tomato Ketchup, whilst over half can’t resist a proper ‘English brew’ and pack their own teabags. 3% even take along their own instant mash potato!
Top 10 foods Brit’s take abroad:
1 Teabags 54%
2 Biscuits 48%
3 Instant Coffee 31%
4 Crisps 17%
5 Brown Sauce 15%
6 Noodles 11%
7 Tomato Ketchup 9%
8 Powdered Milk 6%
9 Sugar 6%
10 Instant Mashed Potato 3%
However, once on holiday, it’s evident that Brit’s do embrace different flavours with nearly three quarters (72%) of those surveyed packing their foreign food favourites to bring back home.
Alcohol (spirits) topped the list of holiday items that weigh the returning suitcase down, as well as foreign sweets and chocolate – no doubt to take back for friends and colleagues in office.
Proving it’s not just familiar flavours that are a hit with the British, chilli sauces and herbs and spices are amongst the most popular items that holidaymakers return with.
Top 10 foods Brit’s bring back from holidays:
1 Alcohol (spirits) 46%
2 Foreign Sweets 37%
3 Foreign Chocolate 32%
4 Chilli Sauce 28%
5 Herbs & Spices 19%
6 Olive Oil 15%
7 Crisps 10%
8 Olives 8%
9 Nuts 6%
10 Pasta 5%
Customer Director, Andrew Mann, from The Co-operative Food said: ‘’It’s clear from the research that the British do like their familiar food favourites whilst on holiday, but it’s interesting to see what they bring back with them too. We’re increasingly becoming a nation of spice lovers. Whilst British favourites will always remain on consumers shopping lists, we are seeing a growth in demand for international flavours, particularly Indian, Thai, Spanish and Mexican, as people want to replicate the flavours they’ve experienced abroad.”
Interestingly, men are nearly 10% more likely to opt to pack Brown Sauce in the suitcase than women, favouring the spicy fruit sauce over Tomato Ketchup. However, women more likely to stock teabags and biscuits – nothing more thirst-quenching than a cuppa after a day on the beach!!
Londoners are the most prepared travellers with 9% admitting the items they’re most likely to pack is powdered milk, whereas the Scottish are most likely to take their own alcohol abroad (12%).