Nitrite-free bacon sales rise in UK supermarkets amid consumer demand
UK retailers have expanded their ranges of nitrite-free cured meats as shoppers express concern over chemical additives.
Major chains launch new products
Denhay introduced two new back bacon lines in 570 Tesco stores starting on 21 September. Waitrose doubled its Made Without Nitrites range within the past year to meet this growing interest.
Sales figures show strong growth
Data from Worldpanel by Numerator indicates that nitrite-free spend reached £34.8m in the 52 weeks to 6 September 2026. This represents an increase of 11.4% year on year while conventional bacon spend rose by 9.2%.
Retailers offer more choices
Emer Lowry, a nutritionist at Waitrose, stated that providing options without added nitrites gives shoppers more choice. She noted that these products provide choice without compromising on flavour and taste for customers.
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