Scots food shoppers laziest of all

SALES of so-called "lazy food" are increasing, with shoppers spending more on products such as pre-boiled eggs and pre-sliced fruit.

Consumers spend an average 63 a year on food that is ready-grated, sliced and chopped, up 14 per cent over the past 12 months, according to price comparison website mySupermarket.co.uk

Women spend 10 per cent more on such products than men, and Scotland appears to be the laziest region with consumers spending 74.39 a year.

The study compared the price of a shopping basket including pre-boiled eggs, grated cheese, sliced fruit, chopped vegetables and frozen ready meals.

It found the average consumer spent 63.41 in 2010, up from 55.48 a year ago.

Among different ages, the over-75s spend the most on "lazy" groceries at 65.95 a year compared with 18 to 24-year-olds who spend the least at 56.30.

Those with young children spend an average of 63 a year.

MySupermarket spokesman Jonny Steel said: "Our great-grandparents would be amazed at the kinds of ingredients on supermarket shelves. Foods that were once considered an absurd convenience are now a part of our daily routines."