Is this the end of the fry up? New survey reveals young van drivers prefer breakfast bars and smoothies over a full English Young van drivers today are more health-conscious than ever before, new survey finds. The Vansdirect survey of 250 UK van drivers discovered that fewer than 20 per cent of young van drivers (aged 18-24) choose a fry up for breakfast, with the majority opting instead for healthier options, like breakfast bars, smoothies, and fruit. Overall, only 26 per cent of van drivers today consume a full English while on the road. Surprisingly, just 4 per cent of van drivers skip breakfast entirely. Paul Cox, Sales Director at Vansdirect, said, “We’ve long assumed van drivers are the bastions of fry up culture, but that is looking increasingly not to be the case. “Health-conscious van drivers are rising through the ranks and undoing a lot of what longer-serving drivers - who are more likely still to choose a fry up or a bacon sandwich have been associated with over the years. “For younger van drivers, this means prioritising a nourishing, but convenient, breakfast before a long day of battling traffic and door-to-door deliveries. 30
“We looked at this data in 2021 in particular as it is predicted that more than 350,000 vans (SMMT) will join our roads this year. In turn, more young van drivers than ever are joining the sector – and will soon dictate how van driver culture looks in the future.” Bacon and sausage sandwiches aren’t completely off the menu in 2021, however, with 45 per cent of respondents aged 18-24 choosing this van driver staple. The same amount would also quite happily opt for toast or a yogurt instead of a bacon or sausage bap, suggesting younger van drivers are now looking towards healthier options alongside their fried favourites. In fact, over 80 per cent of all van drivers surveyed said they would like to eat more healthily on the road. Below is the average van driver diet in 2021, split by age group: 18–24-year-old van drivers’ typical daily diet Breakfast: Breakfast bar or smoothie Lunch: Meal deal Snack: Breakfast bar
