Bord Bia launches campaign to encourage consumers to look for the Quality Mark at Christmas
According to Bord Bia Quality Mark Christmas Research, traditional Turkey and Ham is still the number one choice with 84% of Irish people eating it on Christmas day. The findings were released today at the launch of Bord Bia’s Quality Mark Christmas campaign which encourages consumers to look for food with the Quality Mark when shopping this Christmas to ensure it has been produced to the highest quality standards and can be traced back to the farm.
While 11% of Irish people chose other Christmas meats such as Beef, Lamb, Duck, Goose, Pheasant and Venison - Turkey, Ham and Stuffing have emerged as Ireland’s favourite Christmas Foods. The research, carried out on behalf of Bord Bia, shows that Ireland’s top five Christmas foods are:
- Turkey – 28%
- Stuffing – 16%
- Ham – 15%
- Mince Pies – 12%
- Christmas Pudding – 10%
Regionally, Cork emerged as the biggest meat fans with 40% choosing Turkey as their favourite food and 30% choosing ham. In contrast however, in Dublin only 5% of people chose Turkey as their favourite Christmas food, with 40% favouring stuffing and 15% choosing cranberry sauce.
Teresa Brophy, Ireland Market Manager, Bord Bia said “Recent Bord Bia, Periscope6 research comparing the shopping, eating and cooking habits of consumers in the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland showed that Irish consumers continue to be more aware of quality symbols and country of origin compared to our neighbours. In the Republic of Ireland 32% always check for Quality Symbols (up 9 percentage points from 23% in 2009) and 36% always check country of origin (up 10% from 26% in 2009). Irish people want the best for their family at Christmas time and by choosing foods with the Bord Bia Quality Mark, consumers can be sure that it has been produced with the utmost care and attention and can be traced back to the farm that it came from”.
Other key findings from the Bord Bia Quality Mark Christmas Research include:
Christmas Cooking
The responsibility for cooking Christmas dinner still tends to lie with the female in the house with 63% saying their wife, mother or mother in law were responsible and only 16% of husbands, fathers and fathers in law.
Christmas Dining
The tradition of eating Christmas dinner with extended family is still popular. According to the 2006 Census, the average household size in Ireland is 2.81 persons, however 72% of respondents have said that they will share Christmas dinner with four or more people and 40% with 6 or more. 58% of respondents will have Christmas dinner in their own home with 26% having dinner in their in-laws or other relation and 5% opting for a hotel.
Top Five Christmas Meats
Irish consumers have indicated that their top five Christmas meats are:
- Turkey & Ham – 57%
- Turkey – 18%
- Ham – 9%
- Goose – 4%
- Duck – 3%
Click on the following lainhs to see a range of tasty Christmas recipes or to find out more about the Bord Bia Quality Mark.