CURRY IS STILL KING OF ETHNIC FOODS
(14 October 2007)

The demand for curry in Britain continues unabated as Key Note research estimates that the total UK ethnic foods market (including rice) grew by 3.5% in 2006 to £1.38bn at retail selling prices (rsp). Excluding rice, the ethnic foods market rose by 3.7% to £1.15bn at rsp. Sales growth slowed slightly between 2003 and 2005, although the market is thought to have recovered a little in 2006 as a result of higher levels of demand for ethnic foods outside the two main market sectors of Indian and Chinese food.

The ethnic foods market can be split into two main sectors - ethnic foods and rice. The ethnic foods sector is split into six subsectors. These are: Indian, Chinese, Mexican/Tex-Mex, Thai, Caribbean and other types of ethnic foods. Indian food is the largest subsector, followed by Chinese. These two subsectors have dominated the market for many years, although they are relatively mature and other subsectors are currently demonstrating higher levels of growth.

DEMAND FOR HEALTHIER FOODS GROWS

New product development (NPD) continues to be one of the main drivers of sales in the ethnic foods market, with much of this innovation being influenced by the trend for healthier eating and for foods that contain lower levels of salt, fats and carbohydrates. Among the other factors influencing NPD are the desires of consumers for more authentic ethnic meals and consumer demand for more premium-range products. The introduction of more convenient packaging formats, such as microwaveable high-quality rice, is also helping to boost sales.

CONSOLIDATION IN ETHNIC FOODS MARKET

There has been some consolidation within the ethnic foods sector in recent years and several of the early pioneers of mass-market ethnic foods in the UK have been acquired by leading international food brands. In 2005, for example, Noon Products Ltd, a leading supplier of Asian food, was acquired by the Republic of Ireland-based Kerry Group and, in May 2007, Associated British Foods PLC acquired the Indian cuisine manufacturer Patak's from the founding Pathak family. In another deal, RHM PLC, which owns the Sharwood brand, was acquired by Premier Foods PLC.

The market for ethnic foods is forecast to show further growth between 2007 and 2011, with the factors determining the rate of expansion likely to include ongoing product innovations, continuing demand for convenience products, rising sales of premium ready meals, the introduction of more healthy ethnic meal options and increased numbers of regional and authentic dishes. Further increases in the number of people from overseas settling in the UK should also continue to provide a stimulus for the existing forms of ethnic foods and NPD.