UK retailer Sainsbury’s has introduced edible insects in 250 stores across the country.
The announcement was made on 17 November on Twitter, where the retailer also claimed to be the first UK supermarket to introduce edible bugs.
Tomorrow we'll be causing a buzz by being the first UK supermarket to launch edible insects. @EatGrubOfficial's Crunchy Roasted Crickets will be available in 250 stores across the country for just £1.50 pic.twitter.com/WND3DkQm0G
— Sainsbury's News (@SainsburysNews) November 17, 2018
The product on offer is the London-based, food manufacturer, Eat Grub's crunchy roasted crickets, which are priced at £1.50 for a packet of around 50 bugs, reports Just Food.
Sustainable Food
The bugs are farmed in Europe, and are promoted by the manufacturer as a high-protein, sustainable food source.
According to a report in The Guardian, the head of future brands at Sainsbury’s, Rachel Eyre, said that snacking on insects should not be seen as a gimmick, and added that consumers are keen to explore this new protein-rich snack.
Recent research reveals that the global edible insect market is expected to exceed $520m by 2023, the report said.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
