If you're looking to be energised, want a boost for your love life or just a hangover cure, crushed fruit, yoghurt and milk may just hold the answer.

According to a new report by consumer analysts Mintel, smoothie sales have soared in the past five years, and Bradford's health conscious shoppers have been reaching for the drinks in their hundreds moving the product from niche market to mainstream.

Concoctions of blueberries, raspberries, bananas, coconut, passion fruit and peach either laced or blended with honey have helped smoothie sales rise by 523 per cent to hit £134 million in that time.

Bradford's sharp businesses have been quick to pick up on the trend.

James Townend is assistant team leader at the Zumo juice bar in Bradford's Kirkgate Centre which sells more than 35 fresh fruit juices and smoothies gets about 200 customers a day and 300 on weekends.

Mr Townend said: "Smoothies are proving really popular in Bradford.

"When we first opened we were just inundated with customers. It quietened down just before Christmas and has picked up again."

The most popular smoothie seems to be the strawberry energiser.

Mr Townend said: "People come here because it's healthy and with the strawberry energiser you get three of the five fruit portions you are supposed to have."

Customer Altaf Hussain, 18, of Springcliffe, in Heaton, sipped on a Copacabana cooler made with passionfruit, pineapple, orange and low fat yoghurt as he sang the praises of the drink.

He said: "I just wanted to taste it because I love fresh fruit and it's so healthy."

Mohsin Mustafa, 21, of Heath Road, Barkerend, said: "When you're exhausted with shopping you need energising, and having a smoothie really helps."

Tony Jones, owner of Feroni's Deli and Coffee Room, in North Parade, said the drink's popularity had been boosted by television and advertising.

He said: "I think there was a little bit of interest but I don't think it is as massive as they are saying.

"We sell a lot of them in summer but then we also sell a lot of fruit juices as well."

He added: "People have an idea that Bradford people want everything as cheap as possible and for a pound.

"But I have four take-aways around me that are 60 per cent cheaper and my business is going through the roof."

Larger companies are also cashing in on the consumer trend.

Bradford-based drinks company Soya Health Foods is launching a new soya smoothie later this year.

The company which employs 15 people at its factory in Bradford Lane, Barkerend, claims the new product will help lower cholesterol.

Marketing manager Robin Gleave said: "The market for smoothies has exploded and is no longer a niche market.

"The product we are launching is a little bit different and is soya-based.

"People are buying into smoothies because they think that they are better for you than other drinks but there is no evidence to suggest that."

e-mail: saima.mir@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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