The vegetable that you either love or hate…
According to recent research approximately 750 million individual Brussels Sprouts are sold in the UK, leading up to Christmas, with 25 percent of the entire year’s sprout sales, sold in the two weeks before December 25th.
Yet, a new nationwide poll has revealed, almost one in five – 16 percent – folk from Stoke polled, believe the bitter little vegetable is the worst thing about Christmas, compared with a national average of just six percent. Manchester (14 percent), Edinburgh (12 percent) and Norwich (12 percent) were also on the list of cities, who maintain sprouts ruin the festive season entirely.
Glasgow, Plymouth, London, Oxford and Birmingham make up the top ten sprout hating cities in the UK, according to the poll. Other festive gripes of the nation include dry turkey (12 percent), hangovers (11 percent) and indigestion (11 percent).
Mark Cuddigan, CEO of plant-based food company THIS:
“Despite what the survey says, a Christmas plate isn’t complete without sprouts! The festive period is always a special time for family, friends and food – but for many the shopping, wrapping, Xmas tunes, and cooking can become overwhelming.”
With all the work, the data revealed that two thirds (69 percent) feel relieved when Christmas Day is over, with half (50 percent) regularly complaining to friends and family about all the things they have to do. In fact, 78 percent of Brits insist Christmas with family and friends is the most stressful time of the year.
Eight percent say stacking the dishwasher repeatedly is the worst thing about Christmas, while work staff parties (10 percent), guests with dietary requirements (6 percent) and queuing at the butchers (6 percent) are also festive drags.
The research was commissioned by plant-based food company, THIS, to find the biggest drags about Christmas.
SPROUT HATING CITIES
- Stoke-on-Trent 16 percent
- Manchester 14 percent
- Liverpool 12 percent
- Norwich 11 percent
- Edinburgh 10 percent
- Glasgow 10 percent
- Plymouth 9 percent
- London 9 percent
- Oxford 8 percent
- Birmingham 8 percent
*The nationally representative survey of 2,000 Brits was commissioned by THIS, in November 2024, via insights agency Perspectus Global
