With the UK still under lockdown, research from HIM shows that shoppers are adapting to home working, home cooking and home baking, as they continue to visit convenience stores more than twice per week, the highest frequency for any channel.
The change in circumstances has also led to traditional store products such as newspapers and soft drinks featuring in fewer baskets, as shoppers, primarily on top up missions purchase more chilled dairy and wrapped bakery.
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Furthemore, as consumers limit their trips outside to only essential visits, they are relying more heavily on convenience stores for top ups. This, in turn, means that wholesaler websites have seen both increased traffic and rapidly changing retailer behaviour.
Initially the lockdown boosted the sale of dry goods, with pasta and rice seeing a significant uplift in revenue during this period. However, priorities are shifting from stocking up in preparation for lockdown to adapting to a ‘new normal’. Revenues for pasta and rice have begun to stabilise, while the closure of pubs has seen retailers looking to bridge this gap, with alcohol revenues seeing an uptick throughout April.
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