Sales of doner kebab meat are soaring by up to 380% as the UK experiences repeated heatwaves, in what has been dubbed a 'Doner Summer'. Google searches for "doner on BBQ" have rocketed by 5,000% compared with last year, according to frozen food retailer Iceland.
Cost-of-living drives demand for affordable BBQ meat
Iceland attributes the surge to the cost of living crisis, with households seeking cheaper ways to feed a crowd instead of pricier meat. The trend is even popular among millionaires, with reports that Taylor Swift ordered 45 large chicken doners from her favourite north London takeaway for her entourage during her Wembley Eras Tour shows.
Swift became a regular at Kentish Delight while dating British actor Joe Alwyn and featured it in her End Game music video. Her favourite order was said to be chicken doner in pitta with salad and garlic sauce. Darts ace Luke Littler is another famous kebab fan, with his love of the takeaway becoming part of his public image.
Iceland chefs share cooking tips
An Iceland spokesman said: "People might usually associate doner with the end of a night out, but it is fast becoming the star of the summer BBQ. It’s packed with flavour, easy to prepare and can feed a crowd without costing a fortune."
The supermarket's chefs recommend cooking doner slices on a cast-iron griddle or plancha to stop them slipping through the barbecue grill. They suggest giving the meat around three to four minutes on each side until piping hot.
