Sales of nuts have hit an all time high according to Tesco, which is attributing the boom to the latest diet craze.

The retailer said sales of Brazil nuts were up by an incredible 600 per cent, while cashews have also seen significant growth of 350 per cent.

Overall, Tesco said the demand for all types of nuts, across the UK, had risen by an unprecedented 81 per cent.

While sales of nuts have been described as flat for several decades, experts are claiming the boom is down to the increased interest in the Gi diet, plus the impact from nutritionist Gillian McKieth’s television programme You are what you eat.

Tesco said it has now responded to the increased demand by giving the category twice as much shelf space, coupled with a packaging makeover and label re-design.

Damien Sutherland, nut buyer, said: “The amazing demand has taken the entire nut industry by surprise because since anyone can remember, sales have been slow but steady.

“Most people associate nuts with Christmas and for years that was the main time that people bought them. Now thanks to health experts talking up their beneficial qualities, they’re extremely trendy and appear on many people’s diet plans.”

Sutherland said after blueberries, nuts were now the fastest growing area of the sector. “That’s prompted us to give them more prominence not only on our shelves, but also in more eye-catching packaging.” Tesco is also launching sunflower, pumpkin and poppy seeds.

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