Table sauces and seasonings 2022: Mayo bucks trend of fall in sauce sales

That’s some achievement given overall volumes of table sauce have fallen 7.8%, and brands have slumped even faster – by 9.6%.

“Mayonnaise continues to be the key growth area in table sauce,” notes Stephen Bough, grocery analytics team leader at NielsenIQ. “This growth is across the whole spectrum.” He points to regular, light and lighter variants and even divisive ones such Heinz’s ketchup/mayo hybrid Saucy Sauce and Hellmann’s gravy-flavoured mayonnaise.

Flavoured options are the future of mayo, believes Hellmann’s owner Unilever. “During lockdowns, we saw flavour boom in the kitchen as many sought out excitement within everyday meals to break monotony,” says Georgina Bradford, marketing director for nutrition. “While we have seen core ranges make a resurgence in recent months, there is no denying that flavour is here to stay, with this now making up 15% of the mayo share versus 11% pre-lockdown.”

It’s a trend that explains Hellmann’s gravy option, which made its debut in March alongside Coronation and Chilli Charger mayos. It also helps explain another year of success for Nando’s. The brand kept volumes in the black while adding £1.6m thanks to lines such as its zingy Perinaise.

Sadly, that taste for a spicy kick hasn’t benefited mustards, in which all big brands are in value and volume decline. But it puts avocado-based hot sauce Kumana in a strong position, insists owner Kraft Heinz. “Hot sauce has been one of the highest-growing categories in sauces for a few years,” the supplier says. Plus, the brand’s Venezuelan influences enhance its appeal – because “67% of consumers see world cuisines products as a way to travel through food”.

That’s been good news for Geeta’s, whose Indian-style chutneys “continue to outperform the category” says director of marketing Eleanor Bridgman. Hot stuff!