Dried fruit consumption is growing as it becomes seen as a convenient and economical food during the recession.

There were 750 million dried fruit occasions in the year to February [TNS], up 9% on the year before. Consumers were seeing packs of dried fruit as suitable for use in a number of meals and snacks, said TNS analyst Marine Samzun, with shoppers also taking advantage of numerous promotions.

Breakfast remains the most popular time of day for eating dried fruit, at 55% of all consumption.