Brown sauce bucks downward sales trend
Brown sauce proved the surprise star performer in 2011, according to a Mintel ](http://www.mintel.com)report that found consumer sales of thick and thin sauces in general fell or stagnated last year.
While the overall market declined in 2011 by 1% year-on-year (from £292m to £289m), growing consumer appetite for brown sauces boosted sales in this sector by 9% (from £47m to £51m) and increased their market share by two percentage points to 18%.
Tomato ketchup remained the nation's favourite although sales dipped by 2% (to £166m from £169m) and market share slid by one percentage point to 57%.
2011's disappointing summer contributed to an 11% fall in sales of BBQ and thick sauces to £32m (from £36m) and a one percentage point drop in market share to 11%.
But the versatility of thin sauces such as soy, Worcester and chilli allowed them to hold both sales and market share at £40m and 14% respectively.
Table sauces and seasonings UK 2011 is available from Mintel for £1,750.
By Angela Frewin
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