Close to 1.3 million lobsters have been sold in U.K. retail for at-home consumption over the past year, slightly more than in the previous 12 months despite higher average prices. However, the overall volume and value generated by lobsters have both fallen, indicating that more smaller-sized lobsters are being sold in the grocery channel.
According to the latest Nielsen ScanTrack data supplied by the U.K. Seafish Authority, lobster sales totaled 360 metric tons (MT) for the 52 weeks ending 4 November 2017, representing a decrease of 18.1 percent year-on-year. In value terms, these sales amounted to GBP 9.8 million (USD 13.1 million, EUR 11.1 million), which was 14.7 percent less than in the previous 12 months.
Meanwhile, the average price per kg climbed 4.1 percent to GBP 27.16 (USD 36.21, EUR 30.74) and the average price per unit jumped 5.6 percent to GBP 7.75 (USD 10.33, EUR 8.77).
In terms of categories, 179 MT of lobsters worth GBP 5.4 million (USD 7.2 million, EUR 6.1 million) were sold chilled and 176 MT worth GBP 4.2 million (USD 5.6 million, EUR 4.8 million) were sold in frozen.
The average price per kg for chilled lobster fell by 2 percent to GBP 30.37 (USD 40.49, EUR 34.37), while the price per unit dropped 3.1 percent to GBP 9.45 (USD 12.60, EUR 10.70). For frozen lobster, the average price per kg increased by 12 percent to GBP 23.95 (USD 31.93, EUR 27.10) and the price per unit soared by 13.4 percent to GBP 7.52 (USD 10.03, EUR 8.51).
Seafish’s figures also find that a total 12,750 MT of shellfish was sold in U.K. retail for GBP 119.6 million (USD 159.5 million, EUR 135.4 million) over the aforementioned 12-month period, representing increases of 3.3 percent and 2.1 percent respectively.
