Britons give classic round tomato the red card as coloured and vine varieties score

‘Now we’ve got new varieties that not only look great but taste fantastic,’ said one leading grower. Photograph: Tim Gainey/Alamy

For a long time the classic round, red tomato has dominated British salads and sandwiches, but its supremacy is coming under threat as sales of rainbow colours and the upmarket rival “cherry on the vine” take off.

“Non-red tomatoes” sales are up 21% this year, a growth rate that far exceeds the overall market, according to Paul Faulkner, of Evesham Vale Growers.