More fresh fish sales through supermarkets and multiple grocery chains, and the development of a range of prepacked fresh products, have been the factors helping to grow sales. Salmon is now the most popular purchase in this sector, followed by cod and haddock. Frozen fish is the largest sector, with fishfingers accounting for the largest share of volume sales. Other key segments are fish main meals and breaded fillets. Premium ready meals and stronger new product development in 2000 will contribute to the development of this sector.
Canned fish is the most mature market and, while sales continue to rise, growth is slow.
The sector is led by canned tuna sales. The UK is a traditional fishing nation, but the UK fishing fleet is declining, along with the number of fishing businesses. However, the number of commercial fish farming operations is increasing. The fish processing sector is becoming more concentrated and a major merger at the end of 1999 created one of the largest seafood businesses in Europe. Imports are taking a larger share of the UK market and the UK trade deficit in the sector is increasing.