When the Swedish Board of Agriculture compiled market figures from the first half of 2020, it turned out that the trend that had been going on for several years intensified during the pandemic.
Overall, the consumption of meat in Sweden is declining, at the same time the consumption of Swedish meat is increasing.
The explanation is that imported meat is declining sharply, in the last six months imports of beef decreased by 14.8 per cent and consumption of imported meat decreased by 4.1 per cent.
- When we travel less, eat less often in restaurants and work remotely, while high schools have been closed during the spring, it also means that our diet has suddenly changed.
It becomes more Swedish meat and less imported when we cook more meals at home, says Åsa Lannhard Öberg who is a market researcher at the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Increased demand for sustainable foods
According to the Swedish Board of Agriculture, consumer demand for more sustainable and locally produced food has increased during the corona pandemic.
- Basically, it is a trend to eat more environmental and healthy food.
There is great interest in locally produced, Swedish and vegetarian food.
This has accelerated during the first six months of this year, she says.