Corned beef is making a comeback in households across the country as Australian shoppers look for new ways to stretch their weekly food budget to combat the rising cost of living.
The surprising meat product has seen a dramatic rise in sales: IGA revealed that annual sales of the protein have increased by 31 percent.
Corned beef, also known as corned silverside, has quickly become one of IGA’s most popular beef products, with mince, beef scotch fillet, rump steak and corned beef being the four best-selling products in the protein category.
Priced at around $8 per kilo, IGA chief executive Estella Young said the meat product was “great value” for Australians looking to make their food budget “go a little further”.
“We know there are a lot of Australian families who are struggling and really… working hard to make ends meet,” she told NewsWire.
‘When you can get a high-value protein and meal prep recipes that will potentially not only make for dinner that night, but lunch the next day… it’s a great way to stretch your budget.
“No matter how you look at it, it’s really good value for money.”
But Ms Young said that for Australians who grew up eating corned beef, the feeling of nostalgia during the cold winter months could be one of the reasons shoppers opt for the product.
Corned beef has seen a dramatic rise in sales at IGA stores (pictured)
Annual corned beef sales up 31 per cent at Aldi stores across Australia (stock)
But Ms Young said that for Australians who grew up eating corned beef, the feeling of nostalgia during the cold winter months could be one of the reasons shoppers opt for the product.
“It’s been a very cold winter and people absolutely relate to childhood recipes, comfort food recipes that you remember your mother cooking for you,” she said.
Ms Young said IGA recently reduced the price of the now popular product from $12.50 as an increasing number of shoppers look for promotional offers at IGA.
She also noted that stores have seen customers shift to other areas of their shopping carts, with many turning to frozen vegetables and private label products to save money.
“There has been a considerable change in buyer behavior over the last six months,” he said.
