Britons are shifting to cheaper food alternatives in their supermarket shopping as they try to navigate a worsening cost of living crisis.
Market researcher NielsenIQ said that over the four weeks to June 18 sales of frozen poultry rose 12% year-on-year; sales of rice and grains increased 11%, canned beans and pasta were up 10%, gravy/stock up 9%; canned meat up 9% and dry pasta up 31%.
In contrast, sales of beers, wines and spirits, still affected by the slow reopening of the hospitality industry a year ago; fell 9.7%, while general merchandise sales fell 6.1% as shoppers trimmed discretionary spending.
The researcher said total grocery sales at UK supermarkets rose 1.5% on a value basis over the four week period year-on-year, boosted by the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and a spell of hot sunny weather. However, sales fell 5.5% on a volume basis.
Over the four weeks store visits grew 7%, an extra 31 million trips, the market researcher said.
In contrast online sales fell 12% compared with last year. With almost half a million fewer online shoppers than in June 2021.
This meant the online share of grocery sales reduced to 11.3% from 11.7% in May and 13.1% a year ago.
Market leader Tesco (TSCO.L) was the only one of Britain’s traditional big four supermarket groups to grow sales on a value basis over the 12 weeks to June 18. They were up 0.4% year-on-year.
Aldi and Lidl were the fastest growing food retailers, with their combined market share hitting 19.1%.
-Reuters.
