Slop it like it’s hot: the rise of build-your-own takeaway salad bowls

Few things have killed the leisurely lunch like capitalism, and Canary Wharf’s food court makes that plain: Deliveroo riders and suits thread between Prets and Itsus carrying the same thing, a big bowl of what many now call slop. The term describes pick-your-own bowls of mixed dishes sold in fast-casual spots — typically leaves or a grain base, a small serving of protein and finishing touches such as something crunchy, something pickled and an optional dressing — which often arrive at a desk in a soggy, single-portion state.

Prices vary widely, from around £7 up to £25 depending on additions, and high-street salads can already cost a similar amount. Chains such as Atis, Farmer J, Build a Bowl and The Salad Project offer versions that start with leaves or rice, add items like grilled hispi cabbage, roast sweet potato, chargrilled salmon or marinated tofu, and finish with pickles or maple walnuts; supermarkets and delivery services have followed, with Ocado stocking M&S “nutrient dense” bowls at an affordable price.

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