Supermarkets say that the ease of cooking squid – which is ready to eat after as little as a minute on a hot grill – is another reason behind the surge in demand.
Waitrose, the retail chain, said that sales of whole imported squid have risen by 230 percent in recent months compared to last year. Sales of squid tubes, which are the 'pouches' of the squid without the legs, have risen by 75 percent.
Part of the rise has been attributed to the Dukan diet, the popular protein-based diet that limits participants’ eating regime to a list of around 100 allowed foods, including squid.
According to nutrition experts, squid is healthy because it helps the body absorb iron, contains high levels of the mineral phosphorus and is rich in vitamin B2.
Squid and octopus recipes have also featured prominently on recent editions of the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen television programme.
Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket, said that sales of frozen – rather than fresh - squid have risen by 10 per cent so far this year compared to 2011. Sainsbury's said it has seen a "steady rise" in sales of fresh squid in recent months.
Jeremy Ryland Langley, specialist buyer of fish and shellfish at Waitrose, said: “Brits are going mad for squid this year. It is one of our fastest-growing seafood lines and we expect to see it continue to rise in popularity.”
He had that Britons are traditionally “very conservative” when eating fish. However consumers are becoming more adventurous than they used to be.
At the moment Waitrose sells around 85 tonnes of squid a year. This is likely to rise to around 100 tonnes next year, Mr Ryland Langley said.
John Adams, a spokesman for the National Federation of Fishmongers, said that squid sales to restaurants have increased significantly in recent years.
“Up until a few years ago the catering industry never touched squid. But you have to follow trends and people’s tastes. You have to follow the whims of the customer,” said Mr Adams.
The majority of squid sold in the UK at present is imported from South Africa or India, retailers say. Fresh squid comes into season later in the summer.
Nigel Slater, the celebrity chef and cookery writer, last month extolled the virtues of squid. He said that the trick when preparing the food is to only cook it for a “minute or two” otherwise it will toughen.
According to the most recent figures from the Marine Management Organisation, £10.2 million worth of squid was landed into the UK by domestic fishermen in 2010, up 70 per cent from £6.1 million in 2009. Although the majority of this was exported, the increase shows that demand is rising internationally as well.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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