Labour takes 63 per cent lead...when it comes to digging into a cheese sandwich

• 77 per cent of parliamentary candidates have tucked into a cheese sandwich in the last month
• 6 out of ten Labour candidates eating cheese sandwiches weekly, highest number among the three largest parties

As the election campaign peaks, new research commissioned by Arla Foods UK as part of a campaign to promote the value of buying British for the UK dairy sector, finds that the British parliamentary candidates are reaching for the nostalgic cheddar cheese sandwich to keep hunger at bay with 77 per cent having tucked into one in the last month. When Ed and David face the wrath of the media and the public maybe they are using lunch break to ensure they are become ‘thick skinned and mature’?

Candidates on the campaign trail have been eating cheese sandwiches at least once a week. Labour is leading the way with 63 per cent of candidates eating a cheese sandwich on a weekly basis. Closely following are Lib Dem candidates, with over half (56 per cent) eating this cheesy lunchtime snack every week, against just 38 per cent of Conservative candidates.

The survey found that 83 per cent of parliamentary candidates are keen to buy British to support farmers. However, there are some variations:

• Labour candidates are the most likely to buy British to support farmers (86 per cent);
• 85 per cent of English parliamentary candidates said they are would buy British, slightly higher than Scottish candidates (76 per cent); and
• Newer parliamentary candidates are more likely to support British produce – 92 p per cent elected in 2010 or later, against 58 per cent of those elected in 1992 or before.

UK consumers are also keen to support the UK’s dairy farmers by buying British produce. British cheese brand Anchor^® Cheddar surveyed 2,000 adults and discovered that, while 55 per cent of those surveyed had not eaten a cheese sandwich in the previous week, they are still keen to support the UK’s dairy industry. 72 per cent consumers, if given the option, said they would always buy 100 per cent British produce to support the nation’s farmers.

And, from Plymouth to Perth, Arla farmer owners have been supporting the Anchor Save the Cheese Sandwich campaign. They have been hitting the road since February on a nationwide town tour urging shoppers to rediscover their love for the cheddar cheese sandwich and buy a farmer-owned cheddar brand in the second phase of Arla’s Support our Farmers*  campaign. 

Ash Amirahmadi, head of milk and member services at Arla, said:

“We are delighted to see that there is such appetite for cheese sandwiches among our future leaders. We would encourage all those elected to government to support British produce and the UK dairy industry.”

Ends

Notes to editors 

• *In October 2014, Arla launched the ‘Support our Farmers’ campaign to encourage shoppers to buy Arla dairy products, including Cravendale milk, Anchor and Lurpak butter and Castello cheeses. The campaign aims to demonstrate to the British public that buying Arla products benefits Arla farmer owners directly.

About the research

• Populus interviewed 153 current MPs and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates on the Populus Future Parliament Panel in February and March 2015.Of these, 138 are standing in the General Election of 7 May 2015, and only responses from those standing are counted in results. Results were weighted to be representative of the post-Election House of Commons according to current Populus predictions and polling.

About Arla

Arla Foods is a global dairy company and co-operative owned by 13,500 dairy farmers circa 3,000 of whom are British.

Dating back to 1881, Arla’s purpose is to secure the highest value for its farmers’ milk, while creating opportunities for their growth. With production facilities in 11 countries and sales offices in a further 30, Arla is the world’s sixth largest dairy company and largest supplier of organic dairy products. Arla has a total of more than 18,000 colleagues and its products are sold under the well-known brands Arla®, Lurpak® and Castello® in more than 100 countries.

Arla Foods UK is the largest dairy company in the country and is home to leading dairy brands Anchor, Cravendale, and Lactofree. It has a turnover of £2.3 billion. As well as being number one in fresh liquid milk, butter, spreads and cream, Arla is the UK’s largest cheese manufacturer. It has also built the world’s largest fresh milk facility located at Aylesbury and has plans for it to be the first zero carbon site of its kind. The UK business has a team of approximately 3,500 colleagues located at its dairies, distribution centres and head office.