Consumption changes
MEAT, EGGS AND FISH
South Africans consumed about 18kg of meat a year more in 2009 (58.7%) than they did in 1994 (40.3%).
Bovine meat, mutton and goat remained relatively the same, while pork and poultry consumption increased.
For pork it rose from 3.1kg to 6.8kg and poultry from 15.3kg to 32kg.
Eggs rose from 4.3kg to 6.7kg and total fish and seafood from 5.9kg to 7.5kg.
CEREALS
A slight decrease of 4.6% was seen for maize consumption from 1994 to 2009, which is expected to continue into 2020 as household incomes continue to increase and consumers move toward higher valued food items. Wheat consumption ranged from 59.8kg to 60.9kg, while only rice and oats showed a significant increase in consumption, of 48% and 83.3% respectively.
VEGETABLES, FRUIT
AND NUTS
South Africans are eating slightly more fruit than in 1994 with data showing about a 6% increase, led mainly by an increase in banana, apple and grapefruit consumption. There was a slight decrease in vegetable consumption.
However, tomato and onion consumption increased moderately. Consumption of starchy roots (mainly potatoes) increased with a slight decrease in sweet potato
consumption.
DAIRY
Dairy consumption increased by 8.4% from 1994 to 2009 and by 14.7% from 1999 to 2012.
Some significant shifts, based on Euromonitor data, are increases of 18.5% and 6.8% in cheese and drinking milk consumption respectively, and a more significant increase of 73.7% in yoghurt and sour milk products consumption since 1994.
Cheddar was the most popular type of unprocessed cheese (31%) followed by Gouda (20%).
Cows milk consumption increased by 7.3% with a larger increase of 16.7% in value-added flavoured milk produces.
FATS
Butter consumption increased from 0.3 to 0.4kg (33%) from 1999 to 2012 with margarine consumption increasing by 13.6% to 2.5kg.capita/year from 1999 to 2012.
PACKAGED FOOD
In recent years there has been an increase in sales of almost all categories of packaged food and beverages, which has resulted in a vibrant packaged food and beverage sector. According to Euromonitor International, the sector has grown
by 57% from R91 billion to R143bn. The largest category in packaged food in terms of per capita consumption is the bakery sector.
The total consumption of items in this category increased slightly by 6.4%.
With respect to baked goods, of which bread consumption is the largest contributor, a slight increase of 4.7% was observed.
White bread remained the most popular type in 2012 at 49%, because of its appeal with lower income consumers. However, brown bread increased in popularity, with its share reaching 42% in 2012. A number of new speciality breads were launched.
Consumption of biscuits – savoury and cracker as well as sweet – increased by 50%.
The consumption of breakfast cereal, both hot and readyto-eat, increased by more than 42.2% since 1999.
For sauces, dressings and condiments there was a significant growth of 57.9%, with table sauces driving most of the consumption increases at 73.3% growth from 1999 to 2012. Consumption of tomato sauce and salad dressings more than doubled since 1999 and consumption of mayonnaise grew by 50%.
The frozen processed foods category grew by 21.7% from 1999 to 2012, with consumption in some sub-categories, such as frozen ready meals, pizza, processed potatoes and processed poultry doubling.
Chocolate slabs are the most popular confectionary and hold over 50% of market share. Plain milk chocolate is still preferred over dark but the ratio is changing because of the health benefits associated with dark chocolate. Consumption increases (16.7%) in sugar confectionery are mainly as a result of boiled sweets, pastilles, gums, jellies and chews.
Sweet and savoury snacks consumption experienced significant growth of 53.3% between 1999 to 2012.
SOFT DRINKS
South Africans are increasing their consumption of soft drinks, especially in urban areas.
Soft drinks were second to fruit, the most commonly purchased street food item.
Total soft drink consumption increased by a dramatic 68.9% from 55 litres a head a year in 1999 to 92.9 litres in 2012, with all categories experiencing significant growth.
Bottled water has become a substantial global business and experienced a dramatic growth of 315% after 1999.