Talking Retail Grocery and product news for independent retailers
The survey by FMCG mobile app Shopmium shows that UK consumers are increasingly shopping at a wider variety of stores, with 34% now visiting three or more different supermarkets a week, compared to 16% in week three, and 19% in week 10.
However, the changes to purchasing habits since the start of the pandemic remain, with 48% of consumers reporting a change to the grocery products they buy. The biggest changes include a switch to healthier products (52%), buying more local produce (30%), and purchasing products with less packaging (20%). Covid-19 also appears to be accelerating the trend for vegetarianism and veganism, with 14% stating that they are buying less meat, fish and dairy than before.
The research also shows that many Brits have been financially impacted by the crisis, with 31% of respondents saying they have less disposable income, 19% are spending less money on groceries, and 98% are looking for discounts and ways to save money on groceries.
In addition, the survey finds that only 10% of shoppers report feeling unsafe visiting a supermarket, but 64% say they would change their main supermarket if it wasn’t taking relevant precautions. In fact, 11% of consumers have already changed their main supermarket because they felt it wasn’t following safety procedures.
Shopmium’s UK head, Stuart Sankey, said: “Supermarkets and FMCG brands also continue to have a major advantage in reaching consumers at present, as the majority of the UK public are still opting to eat and drink at home rather than visit pubs, bars and restaurants over safety fears.
“The brands that best reflect evolving consumer preferences and act to alleviate concerns over safety, will be the ones that come out of the Covid crisis unscathed.”
