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) According to a report by the General Statistics Office, the estimated pangasius output for January 2025 reached 102.5 thousand tons, representing a 6.0% increase compared to the corresponding period of the preceding year. This surge is attributed to the rise in pangasius material prices within the Mekong Delta, which has incentivized aquaculture farmers to expand their stocking activities. Concurrently, this price increase has facilitated processing enterprises to intensify procurement efforts to meet export demands during the early part of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Between 2015 and 2024, Vietnamese pangasius exporting enterprises have undergone notable transformations in rankings and experienced fluctuations in developmental strategies, competitive intensity, and business efficacy. This dynamic is clearly illustrated through shifts in export turnover and the proportional contribution to the national pangasius export volume among the Top 5 enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The outlook for Vietnam’s seafood exports remains positive, with a strong focus on maintaining growth in key markets like China and the U.S., while diversifying into new regions. As global trade policies continue to evolve, adaptability and strategic planning will be key to navigating the challenges ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanks to improved pangasius prices and higher production, Vĩnh Hoàn's after-tax profit in Q4 2024 reached VND 440 billion, a 4.8-fold increase compared to the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam’s Customs, in Q4 2024, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong reached USD 163 million, a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2023, with consistent growth across all months. The total value of pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong for 2024 reached USD 581 million, a 1% increase over the previous year.
Vietnam’s seafood exports are projected to maintain strong growth this year, potentially reaching 11 billion USD.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final quarter of 2024, Vietnam’s surimi and fish cake exports showed consistent growth over the last three months. For the entire year 2024, exports of these products reached USD 298 million, down 2% compared to 2023. However, the final quarter saw more promising signs for the surimi and fish cake export sector, with some markets experiencing notable growth, such as Thailand, China, and Taiwan. Particularly, exports to Taiwan, which had seen continuous declines in the previous two quarters, surged by 301% in this quarter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Another year of pride for Vietnam's pangasius exports has concluded, reaching over USD 2 billion and contributing 20% to Vietnam's total seafood export turnover.
Vietnam maintained its position as the fifth-largest seafood exporter to Singapore for 12 consecutive months, surpassing Japan for the first time in 2024, amid the intensifying competition in this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Despite facing numerous challenges in the second half of the year, Vietnam's canned tuna exports concluded 2024 with a 17% increase compared to 2023, reaching USD 299 million. To maintain this growth momentum in 2025, the canned tuna production and export sector requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders.
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