Duck is the new turkey at Asda
Supermarket chain reports sales up 90 per cent
December 24 2002
Duck is starting to challenge turkey as the Christmas diner of choice as UK shoppers look for something special to eat on Christmas Day, according to supermarket chain Asda.
With more than 11m turkeys eaten last Christmas, it is still the UK’s most popular festive dish by far. However Mick Tracey, poultry selection manager at ASDA said:”To some extent turkey has become a victim of its own success. Millions of people now eat turkey steaks and mince throughout the year and no longer see it as a luxury.
“Instead a growing number of customers are looking for something a bit different to eat on Christmas Day, and duck seems to be the most popular alternative to turkey. Our sales of duck this year are up by nearly 90 per cent.”
Duck was once far more common on British Christmas dining tables, simply because its was cheaper – and easier to obtain – than other festive favourites such roast swan, pheasant, peacock, and boars head. Turkey, which originates from Mexico, was first imported into the UK in the 1500s by Yorkshireman, William Strickland, who acquired six birds from Native American traders.
Duck has a long way to go before it can claim the Christmas number one slot. Turkey still outsells it by nearly 9 to 1 at Asda.
