Top retail trends for 2021 revealed

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Driving online profitability, creating safe shopping spaces, and bringing the out-of-home experience in-home are among the key trends expected to shape retail in 2021, research organisation IGD predicts.

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IGD expects retailers to be digitally enhancing operations in 2021 by introducing technologies that have a low capital investment and are easy to update, and to form partnerships with third-party technology providers to speed up new tech introduction.

The research organisation also expects retailers to escalate ecommerce, encouraging shoppers towards click-and-collect, and assessing the options for rapid delivery.

IDG also predicts retailers will creating inspiring meal solutions for all occasions and will seek to capture shopper spend that was previously taking place out of home.

Toby Pickard, head of innovation and futures at IGD, said: “As the pandemic continues to create challenges for social interaction and people continue to work from home, we expect retailers to focus on inspiring meal solutions for all occasions throughout the day and week. By highlighting both value, ease of preparation and cooking along with inspiration, retailers have a real opportunity to capture shopper spend that was previously taking place out-of-home.”

The research organisation also predicts retailers will focus on health and wellness. There will be a greater focus from shoppers on hygiene and sanitation products and retailers and brands trying to differentiate themselves by helping shoppers and consumers live healthier lives.

In addition, IGD expects retailers to focus on sustainability, with continued implementation globally of initiatives to reduce plastic and food waste.

Pickard added: “When planning for 2021, companies should consider the two main variable factors from the pandemic: the potential path of the virus (from a relatively manageable virus to multiple outbreaks with lockdowns) and performance of the economy (from an economic performance that quickly recovers to a hard-hit economy slow to rebuild).”