Sainsbury's are reporting 2016 to be the year of the salad. No longer relegated to side dish status, this year sees salads taking centre-stage on our summer tables and when it comes to the leaves – sales data suggests 'the greener the better'.
Sainsbury's Baby Spinach is the best-selling salad bag, Wild Rocket is at number three, with mixed salad bags - that combine a selection of different leaves - also a popular choice. Sales of perennial favourite Iceberg remain steady and it is still has a place in the top ten sellers but the growth of darker green options suggests a broader consumer desire to embrace these nutrient-rich leaves. Sales trends at Sainsbury's shows dark green varieties like spinach, rocket and watercress are among those growing the fastest.
Year on year salad bag sales are below:
- Mixed Leaf +92% (a mix of Red Multileaf, Green Multileaf, Green Batavia & Radicchio)
- Watercress +52%
- Bistro +27% (a mix of Lambs Lettuce, Beetroot, Red Chard & Bulls Blood Chard)
- Rocket +20%
- Sweet leaf mix +20% (a mix of Iceberg Lettuce, Carrot, Romaine Lettuce & White Cabbage)
- Spinach +19%