How have customers' cupboard essentials changed over time?

British households now fill their cupboards with food staples that were relatively unknown in the 1980s, according to a recent study of 2000 adults.

The research was commissioned by Spar to launch its ‘Giving One Million Meals’ campaign  with FareShare and discovered how food essentials have evolved over the years.

It found that cupboards are now home to couscous, harissa and coconut milk and that a third of kitchens now have a bottle of soy sauce available at all times.

The study revealed that a quarter of people considered balsamic vinegar as an essential ingredient and that a tenth of kitchens stock rice crackers.

Respondents said that items such as corned beef, condensed milk and SPAM were things they would only find in their parent’s or grandparent’s cupboards.

In addition, timeless staples including baked beans, biscuits and tinned soup were still found as food essentials that have stocked British kitchens for over 40 years.

Chopped tomatoes, tinned tuna and lentils were also among those items that have remained as cupboard stables and the study also found that peaches, tinned sardines and bovril were foods that you would only expect to find in older people’s larders. 

Suzanne Dover Spar UK brand & marketing director said: “We understand how important it is to have the cupboard essentials you need to hand and it’s really interesting to see how our essentials have changed over the years and which are still our firm favourites.”