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) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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