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Get your free copy09 August 2011, 07:20 AM
- Attempts by Waitrose to tap into the speciality seafood sector are clearly paying off – sales of oysters increased by a massive 87% last week
Attempts by Waitrose to tap into the speciality seafood sector are clearly paying off – sales of oysters increased by a massive 87% last week
Sales of oysters, which are now available from the supermarket’s fish counter, have been encouraging throughout the summer.
Waitrose fish buyer Jeremy Langley says, “Oysters sales at Waitrose are at record levels. The current popularity of our Scottish oysters is because cost-conscious consumers are looking to create romantic restaurant-style dinners at home.
“What better choice than oysters for bringing romance home. An oyster supper is special so staying in doesn’t seem a sacrifice. Plus oysters are not a heavy food and in folklore are thought to be an aphrodisiac.”
Other ‘special occasion seafoods’ that are selling well at the store include king scallops, up 32% in the last week. Lobster tails and whole Madagascan tiger prawns are also doing well, with volume sales of the tails up 26% and the prawns increasing by 33% last week.
Additional signs shoppers are looking to make romantic meals include asparagus, with sales at Waitrose up 61% over the past week.
