Mashed potato sales have soared at a UK supermarket, with a new multi-million-pound mash factory opening to help meet demand.

Tesco said its shoppers bought one million more packs of fresh ready-made mash in 2023 than in 2022.

The chain said demand for fresh mash had started to rise shortly before the pandemic, but whole potatoes were more popular in lockdown when Brits had more time to cook from scratch.

However, as lockdown ended and more people returned to work, demand for fresh ready-made mash began to rise again.

Demand increased further through the cost-of-living crisis, with mash seen as an inexpensive and homely old favourite.

Tesco said it has worked with Branston, one of the UK’s largest potato suppliers, on new gourmet mash recipes and that Branston has opened a new mash factory.

The new facility, near Lincoln, has created 80 jobs to help meet the nation’s appetite for the potato dish.

While Tesco said that regular mashed potato is by far its most popular variety, demand for sweet potato mash has rocketed by more than 100% in 2023 versus 2022.

Tesco prepared produce buying manager Alex Edwards said: “Britain’s millions of mash fans should be very excited by the news as our chefs have worked with Branston to excite existing recipes.

“What we’re planning to do is to take the mash-eating experience to the next level and make it more of a gourmet food that you’d find in an upmarket restaurant.”

Branston has worked with Tesco food chefs to improve existing recipes, such as root veg mash where increases of parsnip, butter and seasoning aim to add a sweeter and fresher flavour with creaminess.

Branston chief executive Jim Windle said: “We are proud and very excited to have brought the latest world-class food manufacturing technology alongside restaurant quality recipe design to uplift and elevate one of Britain’s best-loved foods.

“Mash is one of Britain’s favourite comfort foods that needed a 21st-century makeover to delight and inspire customers across the new range.”