Brits are stocking up on fermented foods such as kimchi, miso and kombucha, new sales data from online retailer Ocado has found.
According to the research, searches for ‘fermented food’ on the Ocado website have more than doubled over the last week – rising by 139%, making it one of the most searched terms so far this month.
Some of the most significant sales increases in fermented foods have been seen in raw organic sauerkraut (up 188% compared to last month), Japanese miso ramen (up 95%), and classic kimchi (up 65%).
Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning
As 2022 habits are revamped, online searches for recipe inspirations including fermented foods have begun to surge.
Fermented products have long been praised for helping good gut function, and are proving a popular choice to kick off 2023.
Online supermarket Ocado has a whole host of international cuisine-inspired recipes on offer, from fermented gazpacho with whipped feta toasts to sauerkraut-topped rueben hot dogs.
Searches for ‘Kimchi’ and ‘Kombucha’ are also on the rise, driving up popularity for the fermented food and drinks trend.
“At Ocado we’re proud of our extensive range of fermented food and drinks, taking inspiration from cuisines around the world,” food expert at Ocado Retail, Laura Rowe said.
She added: “From fermented gazpacho with whipped feta toasts, to 10-Minute Kimchi and tofu noodle soup, lamb chops with miso marinade and even sauerkraut-topped reuben dogs, you’ll find an array of funky food recipe inspiration on Ocado.”
The news comes as Ocado Retail CEO Hannah Gibson has said that she remains “confident” in the company’s value offering, despite consumers cutting back on online grocery spending in response to the cost-of-living crisis.
The online grocer published its Q4 and festive season results this week, revealing its “biggest ever” Christmas.
