The sushi market - Portugal

1.1 Definition and scope of study

Sushi is a dish of Japanese origin based on vinegar rice (the shari ) and another ingredient (the neta ), most often raw fish. Sushi is regularly accompanied by other ingredients that play a full part in their consumption (ginger, wasabi, sweet or savoury soy sauce). Although their consumption is relatively rare in Japan, the recipe is extremely popular around the world

There are several types of sushi

• Makis - roll sushi wrapped in seaweed
• Temakis - the preparation is similar to maki, in the form of a cone
• Nigiris - Raw fish slice on an oval shaped rice ball

Sushi is served mainly in restaurants but as the popularity of this dish increases around the world, it is increasingly being distributed in Large and Medium-Sized Surfaces (GMS) as well as the delivery .

The world market is growing driven by the dynamism of Japanese restaurants in all regions of the world, led by Asia and North America

Known for its high consumption of fish and seafood, sushi is gaining more and more importance in Portuguese culinary culture . The wide availability of fresh produce facilitates the spread of this type of food in the country, which is further strengthened by the large number of tourists visiting Portugal each year These factors have made the country the largest per capita consumer of fish in the European Union (more than 53.8 kg/year), according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which show enormous potential for players still wishing to enter this market.