Leading British supermarket Tesco has said exotic salads are rapidly growing in popularity over sandwiches as a new lunchtime favourite for office workers and those on the go. 

In a release the chain said increasing numbers of shoppers across the U.K. were now choosing a salad over a sandwich, wrap or roll, adding the healthier end of the salad market was growing the fastest.

"Latest retail sales data reveals that in the last year demand for leafy salads across all retailers have grown by nearly three times the rate of sandwiches," Tesco said.

"At the same time demand for ‘light’ salads have grown at nearly four times the rate of sandwiches."

Tesco said the growing trend has prompted it to 'completely overhaul' and more than treble its 'on the go' salad range to nearly 50 lines.

Included in the new range are such exotic salads as Crayfish and Mango Salad, Coconut Asian Chicken Salad, King Prawn, Spicy Charlotte Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Lime Dressing, Salmon and Edamame Sushi Rice Salad, and Yakitori Chicken Sushi Salad.

Tesco salad buyer Helen Dwyer said the quality and range of ready-to-eat salads had improved so much in recent years that they were attracting shoppers who might otherwise have bought a sandwich, wrap or roll.

“Traditionally, sales of prepared salads would rise during the summer months and drop again during the winter," she said.

“Now, because of the exciting number of new gourmet salads available that demand is not only sustained throughout the year but is bringing in plenty of new customers who might otherwise have chosen a sandwich as a lunchtime snack.

“This current boom has prompted us to launch what we believe to be among the most sumptuous and wide-ranging ‘on the go’ salad range available on the high street but at equally mouth-watering prices."

Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons

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