The Enduring Popularity of Chips

Even with the wide variety of foods available in supermarkets and on restaurant menus, many British meals still include chips. According to latest research by Taylor Nelson Sofres, fish and chips is still one of the nation's most popular meal choices, with 541 million meals consumed in the home, in restaurants or as a takeaway, in 2002.

Furthermore, the British love of chips makes them twice as likely to be eaten at home than pasta or rice, with chips consumed at 1.4 billion meals during 2002. With traditional foods such as sausages being consumed at six per cent of all evening meals, it is evident that for the time being traditional accompaniments such as chips will continue to be a key part of the British diet.

Caroline Finn, Senior Account Executive, TNS' Family Food Panel Complete, said: 'It cannot be ignored that chips are a favourite at the dinner table. Homemade chips make up a quarter of all chips consumed at home and were eaten at 371 million meals in 2002, but the homemade variety are suffering long-term decline. With the demand for convenience food increasing, we have witnessed a growth of 18 per cent in frozen manufactured chips over the past two years, proving that convenience is a key factor when it comes to selecting meals. Similarly we have seen an increase in traditional, prepared ready-meals, suggesting that the British still enjoy traditional favourites, yet they have little time to make these foods from scratch. The appeal of chips is still rife with 28 per cent of them being eaten by children and a third of school meals containing them.'

People's shopping habits also support the trend for easy preparation. As competition increases among manufacturers for more convenient products, markets have seen considerable new product development. In 2002, 112 new product lines were launched in the UK's chip and potato products market. Among the most successful launches were the healthier Oven Baked Chips, which replaced the less healthy 'Fry Chip' alternatives.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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