Mayonnaise now outsells tomato ketchup for the first time in Britain’s battle of the bottles
The amount spent on mayonnaise has gradually been rising — while the amount forked out on ketchup has fallen
MAYONNAISE has toppled tomato ketchup as our favourite bottled sauce for the first time.
Industry figures show mayo sales rose by 6.9 per cent to £152.2million, while ketchup plunged by 2.7 per cent to £145.5million.
By volume, ketchup was down by 4.2 per cent and its rival up 7.3 per cent in the year to April.
Experts say the shift is a sign of our changing tastes towards healthier foods and new flavours and varieties.
Ketchup sales have been hit as buyers turn to more exotic sauces such as peri peri and chilli chutneys.
But mayonnaise has not lost out to any particular alternatives and has helped sales with low-fat versions.
Its appeal has also been boosted because of a price war between major manufacturers such as Hellmann’s and Heinz, analysts Kantar Worldpanel noted.
Marketing expert Laurie Booker, of brand design agency Cowan, said mayo makers were promoting its natural ingredients such as free-range eggs and removing artificial colours and preservatives.
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He added: “There have been some interesting innovations within mayo while ketchup has remained largely the same.
“A wider flavour choice means mayo has become more appealing and intriguing.”