Corned beef is making a comeback in homes across the country as Australian shoppers look for new ways to stretch their weekly food budget to combat rising living costs.
The meat wonder has seen a huge boost in sales, with IGA revealing that annual sales of the protein have jumped by 31 percent.
Salted beef, also known as silver salted beef, has quickly become one of IGA’s most popular beef products, with ground beef, Scottish beef steak, rump steak and salt beef being the top four best-selling products in the protein category.
At around $8 per kilogram, the meat is “great value” for Australians looking to stretch their food budget “a little bit further,” said IGA executive general manager Estella Young.
“We know there are a lot of Australian families who are struggling and working really hard to make ends meet,” she told Newswire.
“When you can get high-value protein and prepare meals and recipes that might not only make dinner that evening (but) lunch the next day as well… that’s a great way to stretch your budget.
“No matter how you cut it, it’s a really good value.”
But Ms Young pointed out that for Australians who grew up eating corned beef, the feeling of nostalgia during the cold winter months may be one reason shoppers turn to the product.
But Ms Young pointed out that for Australians who grew up eating corned beef, the feeling of nostalgia during the cold winter months may be one reason shoppers turn to the product.
“It’s been a really cold winter and people are totally responding to childhood recipes, comfort food recipes that you remember your mom cooking for you,” she said.
Ms. Young said IGA recently lowered the price of the popular product from $12.50 because more shoppers are looking for promotions at IGA.
She also noted that stores have seen customers make changes in other areas of their shopping cart, with many turning to frozen vegetables and private-label products to save money.
“There has definitely been a big shift in shopper behaviour over the past six months,” she said.
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