Poles returning to the UK?

Supermarket giant, Tesco has today reported 15% increase in demand for Polish groceries.

Supermarket giant, Tesco has today reported 15% increase in demand for Polish groceries compared to twelve months ago, suggesting that Poles are returning to the United Kingdom.

Large numbers of Polish workers migrated to the United Kingdom following Poland’s accession to the EU in 2004. By 2008, it was estimated that 1.2 million Polish migrants had settled in the United Kingdom, however many returned to Poland earlier this year as the recession started to bite and jobs became scarce. The news that Tesco is reporting a marked increase in the demand for Polish groceries would however suggest that this trend is being reversed, and that Poles are returning to the United Kingdom.

Tesco's Polish foods buyer Tomasz Zarebinski said, “When jobs began drying up some Poles returned home in order to try and find work but many found it equally hard over there and have decided to come back to the UK.” He added, “With unemployment currently higher in Poland than in the UK many of those who left are more hopeful of finding work over here.”

This week will see Tesco adding a further 92 Polish products to its already extensive range of Polish groceries, which will include juices, pickled vegetables, ready-meals, and soups as well as popular national dishes such as Bigos and Flaki.