Brits are in the grip of a workplace food larceny epidemic, according to a new poll, with nearly one in eight (13%) 18–29-year-olds admitting to illicitly taking food from a colleague … the highest of all the generations.
They’ve coughed to grabbing more than FOUR items from the workplace in the past 12 months, with their favourite steals including: a chocolate bar (65%), a sandwich (52%), biscuits (52%) and pasta (35%).
They’re even taking cake (33%), salads (26%), sushi (15%) and falafels (9%).
This is compared to much lower levels of lunch crime amongst older generations, 11% of Millennials, 6% of Gen X and 3% of Baby Boomers admit to pinching someone’s grub.
And, according to the survey of 2,000 Brits, nearly one in ten (9%) of the general population admit to pilfering food, while almost a quarter (19%) say they’ve had edible goods stolen from them.
The poll, which was conducted to mark National Sandwich Week by Aagrah, producers of authentic Kashmiri tarka pastes, naans, aromatic spice blends and flavour-packed chutneys, found the reason for such anarchy was that more than three-quarters (80%) are stuck in a lunchtime rut and looking for more tasty lunches.
Shakil Hussain, co-founder at Aagrah Foods, says: “Our poll found that two in ten (20%) people admitted to swiping a sarnie because their own lunch was just too bland and 86% are craving more exotic, flavoursome options. That might explain the thieving – but it doesn’t excuse it. It’s time to up our lunch game, pack more flavour into our pack-ups and curb this culinary crimewave.”
With the humble butty (38%) identified as one of the most likely items to be lifted by office workers, Hussain shares his tips for spicing up a sarnie: “With a bit of prep and a little imagination, you can transform your lunch. Try cooking chicken, paneer or even halloumi the night before in one of our tarka pastes – like tikka masala or butter chicken – then, why not swap out the bread for a naan for a bit of variety and an instant glow up. Short on time? A spoonful of our chutneys in a simple cheese sandwich, paired with pickled pink onions and salad leaves, will take it to the next level in seconds.”
Worryingly, a third (33%) of thieves are STILL on the loose saying they didn’t get caught and WOULD do it again.
Meanwhile, one in five (20%) say they’ve caught a swindler after their own PERSONAL INVESTIGATION and 16% say they caught the crook RED HANDED.
But for some the mystery goes on.
One in seven (16%) says the thief remains at large and nearly half (48%) say they have STRONG SUSPICIONS.
The person that sits next to them (26%) is apparently prime suspect, someone on the reception desk (18%) is next up in rogue’s gallery and an IT worker (11%) was another possible perpetrator.
A brazen one in seven (13%) have grabbed the offending item whilst it was in the microwave, two thirds (66%) swiped it from the fridge and more than a third (36%) snatched it from a colleague’s desk.
But whilst the younger generation are the most partial to taking, they’re also the biggest TARGETS with more than a third (38%) claiming to be a victim of a lunch burglar.
Ironically, Gen Z are also the most likely to make a formal complaint to HR, with 38% admitting to sending in a formal e-mail to bosses – compared to 24% of millennials,12% of Gen X and 6% of Baby Boomers.
And when it comes to the home of the lunch thief, there is NO DOUBT with Coventry crowned the capital with nearly one in five (18%) coming clean to the crime.
Next up came the Geordies with 13% of those from Newcastle putting their collective hands up ahead of Cardiff (12%), Leeds (12%) and London (11%).
OFFICE FOODS GEN Z ARE MOST LIKELY TO STEAL:
Chocolate bar – 65%
Biscuits – 52%
Sandwich – 52%
Pasta – 35%
Cake – 33%
Salad – 26%
Sushi – 15%
Falafel – 9%
TOP TEN LUNCH THIEF CITIES:
Coventry – 18%
Newcastle – 13%
Cardiff – 12%
Leeds – 12%
London – 11%
Birmingham – 11%
Nottingham – 10%
Glasgow – 10%
Liverpool – 9%
Manchester – 8%
TOP OFFICE SUSPECT LINE-UP:
The person who sits next to you – 26%
Someone on reception – 18%
Someone in IT – 11%
Someone in HR – 10%
Someone on the creative team – 10%
The boss – 9%
Someone in finance – 7%
