Russian Canned Fish Consumption Survey: Oil-Packed Most Popular, Large Chains Account for 77% of Purchases

A joint survey conducted by the Consumer Behavior Research Center (ЦИПП) under the Russian Quality System (Роскачество) and research firm Online Market Intelligence shows that among canned fish products on the Russian market, oil-packed canned fish is the most popular. The results were reported to Fishnews by the press service of the Russian Quality System, and the survey was published on November 5, 2026.

The survey covered nearly 14,000 canned fish buyers. Among the most popular categories, sprats (шпроты) were chosen by 69% of respondents, pink salmon (горбуша) by 50%, mackerel (скумбрия) by 49%, tuna (тунец) by 48%, and Baltic sprat (килька) by 47%. Respondents buying canned sardines accounted for 41%, canned herring 35%, and canned cod 15%. In the canned fish by-products category, 36% of respondents said they buy cod liver, and 19% buy Alaska pollock liver.

In terms of how the product is consumed, 62% of respondents eat canned fish as a standalone dish, 50% add it to salads, and 43% use it for soups and for making spreads or cold dishes. 26% of respondents use canned fish to make main courses, and 18% for baking.

Regarding preference for packing medium, 70% of respondents said they prefer oil-packed canned fish, 59% buy canned fish in its own juice (собственном соку), and 45% buy canned fish in sauce. Canned fish with spices was chosen by 26%, and canned fish with vegetables by 24%.

As for purchase channels, large chain stores are the main venue, with 77% of respondents buying canned fish at large chains and 56% at mini-supermarkets and neighborhood convenience stores. 19% of respondents buy at specialized fish stores, 12% at food markets, and 9% on e-commerce platforms and online stores.

When choosing canned fish, the factors consumers care about most are, in order, shelf life (54%), lower price (50%), fish species (45%), production date (43%), and past purchase experience with a specific product (43%). About one-third (34%) of respondents pay attention to brand, 29% to discount purchase opportunities, 24% to region of origin, and 17% to fishing location. Respondents who consider compliance with ГОСТ standard requirements important accounted for 18%, and 14% rely on recommendations from relatives and friends. Respondents paying attention to product volume accounted for 24%, and those paying attention to packaging and various additives accounted for 18%. By contrast, consumers pay less attention to protein content (10%), calories (7%), online reviews (7%), fat mass fraction (7%), and advertising (3%).