Tesco Real Food Reveals French Food Becomes UK's Fastest Growing Cuisine

CHESHUNT, England, March 3, 2011 - Tesco Real Food has revealed that French food has become the fastest-
growing cuisine in the UK.

In the last year, volume sales of French ready-made meals and desserts
from all retailers have grown by 16 per cent, according to independent retail
analysts Kantar Worldpanel (Jan 2011).

At Tesco the growth is even higher - rising at 27 per cent year on year -
and the demand has prompted the supermarket to launch its first ever
dedicated range called French Classics.

In that time it has seen the following volume sales rises for French
dishes:

    - Chicken Chasseur - 226 per cent
    - Steak Diane - 32 per cent
    - Coq au Vin - 34 per cent
    - Steak au Poivre - 37 per cent
    - Salmon en Croute - 73 per cent
    - Tarte Au Citrons - 82 per cent

Tesco food (www.tescorealfood.com/) developer Stephanie Bacon, who
helped create the French Classic range, said: "French food has never been
more popular in Britain than it is right now and that may seem unusual given
the tough economic times because it's a cuisine which has always been
perceived as being expensive.

"However, with less money to eat our shoppers have been treating
themselves to upmarket dishes at home in order to replicate the restaurant
dining experience in their own homes.

"We initially saw sales soar after the launch of our Restaurant
Collection - which features several French dishes - two years ago and decided
to create a dedicated range in the autumn which is outperforming all
expectations."

The top five fastest growing cuisines in the UK are French (16 per cent),
Chinese food (www.tescorealfood.com/recipes/inspiration/chinese-recipes.html )
(15 per cent), British (6.7 per cent), Italian (6.6 per cent) and Tex-Mex (3.2
per cent).

Tesco is already planning to add to its French range in the spring with
Beef Bourguignon, Chicken Diane and Crab Gratin being added. The dishes were
created by chefs who have worked in restaurants which have been awarded
Michelin Stars. Tesco Real Food also features a number of French recipes
(www.tescorealfood.com/recipes/cuisines/french-recipes.html),
including classic French remoulade (www.tescorealfood.com/recipes/cuisines/french-recipes.html),
for anyone who wants to try their hand at creating a dish of their own.

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About Tesco Real Food:

The Tesco Real Food website is packed with thousands of inspiring recipes
to suit any occasion. Whether customers are looking for a quick mid-week meal
for the family or something for a special event, visitors are sure to find
exactly what they're looking for. In addition, a range of step-by-step
cooking tips and videos to help improve kitchen skills can be found, as well
as healthy eating and cooking with kids sections. To make shopping even
easier, every recipe has a ready-made shopping list that can be used to add
all the ingredients to the shopping basket in just a few clicks.

    For more information please contact:
    Mike Baess
    Tesco Corporate & Legal Affairs
    New Tesco House
    Delamare Road
    Cheshunt
    Herts
    EN8 9SL
    +44(0)1992-646079
    www.tesco.com/food

For more information please contact: Mike Baess, Tesco Corporate & Legal Affairs, New Tesco House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 9SL, +44(0)1992-646079