Fresh salmon in decline

According to the Irish Retail Fish Market Overview, Q1 2010 - Data to 23rd of January 2011- the frozen fish market is in growth of 3 per cent. Fresh fish however now accounts for just under 60 per cent of total fish spend and has lost 8.3 per cent shoppers in the latest quarter. The remaining shoppers are also shopping less frequently. Fresh fish has seen its price increase faster than frozen, but the frozen’s price is also increasing.

Prepacked fish is becoming more important to the fresh fish market now accounting for 75 per cent of sales. Loose fresh fish are fairing worse in the fresh market with a decline in value terms of 10.6 per cent. In both loose & prepacked salmon is driving the decline in shopper numbers.

 This is also the case with smoked fish. Smoked performance is down year on year by 11.6 per cent. The total smoked category remains heavily influenced by the performance of smoked salmon which makes up 67.1 per cent of the market. Salmon has seen a decrease in price, shopper numbers, and shopper frequency.