It was once an essential piece of kit in every kitchen but, like the corks that gave it a reason to exist, tastemakers are announcing the “death of the corkscrew” after it lost the battle with screw-tops and younger consumers who do not know how to use one.
Forget music or fashion, it turns out that it is ownership of a corkscrew that divides young and old, according to research. Only 27% of 18- to 24-year-olds own one of the devices while for the over-65s that figure stands at 81%, according to the annual trends report by the household goods retailer Lakeland.
The study suggests there could be several reasons behind the fading popularity of a gadget that was once a status symbol that consumers could spend several pounds or several hundred pounds on, including that more young people are steering clear of alcohol.
In 2011, 18% of people aged 16-24 had not had a drink in the previous 12 months, according to NHS data. A decade later, this figure was 28%. There is also evidence that Gen Z and millennials are less interested in wine than previous generations.
The report also highlights the increasing prevalence of screw-top bottles and now even wine in cans in the supermarkets. As a result, it said, “more and more young people just do not know how to use one … and if you don’t know how to use it, why own one?”
But while the corkscrew is out, the retailer known for gamechanging gadgets such as the banana guard and avocado slicer, said there were new kids on the (kitchen) block. Items on this list include “Scrubbies” which are small ceramic sponges designed to clean refillable water bottles and “ergonomic garlic rockers”.
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There is also good news for those with a bread-maker gathering dust because apparently they “are back”. Their recent popularity was put down to people seeking new hobbies during the pandemic. However, amid concern about ultra-processed foods, Lakeland’s experts suggest “people are looking to cook and bake their food from scratch so they can control exactly what goes into it”.