SALMON SALES RISE IN UK TO £1.5 BILLION AS DEMAND GROWS

Salmon sales rise in UK to £1.5 billion as demand grows. Salmon is the UK’s favourite fish, with new figures revealing sales have soared to £1.5 billion amid rising demand.

Sales jumped by 7.2 per cent in the 12 months to August, accounting for almost a third of all fish sales in the UK. The year-on-year growth for salmon was almost double the 3.7 per cent rise recorded across the wider fish category.

Salmon maintained its leading position in the seafood sector, holding 32 per cent of the value share and selling nearly three times more than cod, its closest competitor. Salmon is also well ahead of both tuna and prawns, underlining its continued appeal both at the checkout and on the dinner table.

Trade body Salmon Scotland said the results reflect strong demand and consumer confidence in Scottish salmon, raised in the waters off the Highlands and islands. Scottish salmon also remains the UK’s largest food export, with international sales on track to break through the £1 billion barrier for the first time this year. Recent figures show that salmon exports from Scotland rose by 33 per cent to £941 million in the rolling 12 months to the end of June.

Expert dietitians recommend that adults and children should eat two weekly servings of fish – and one of these should be oily fish, like Scottish farm-raised salmon. A single portion of Scottish salmon provides more than 70 per cent of daily vitamin D needs. Vitamin D is particularly important at this time of year, when the lack of sunshine in Scotland makes it harder for humans to produce it naturally.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:

“The popularity of Scottish salmon keeps growing, both here and abroad. With salmon now accounting for nearly a third of all fish sales in the UK, it’s clear that more people are choosing it for its health benefits and sustainability. Shoppers continue to trust its quality, with Scottish salmon renowned for its superior taste and responsible farming practices. This consumer demand is great news for the nation’s health and the economy, supporting thousands of jobs across Scotland’s rural and coastal communities.”

Images: Salmon Scotland