More than half UK consumers are happy to shop for groceries in-store following easing of Covid-19 restrictions, according to survey

September 2020

More than half UK consumers polled are happy to shop for groceries in-store following easing of COVID-19 restrictions: A survey of consumers has found that the number of people willing to do their grocery shopping at a physical store has more than doubled since May. 

According to the latest EY Future Consumer Index, 56% of consumers were comfortable going into a grocery store in July, compared to just a quarter (25%) in May. 

The survey of more than 1,000 shoppers also found that people are becoming more comfortable when it comes to going to shopping centres, with more than a third (36%) saying they were happy to do so in July, compared to just 15% in May. More people are also gaining confidence when it comes to trying on clothes in store too, with 19% reporting they felt comfortable doing this in July, compared to just 8% in May. 

Open to own-brand products

Around two-thirds of the shoppers polled said they are now more open to own brand packaged food, which is higher than the EY Future Consumer Index's global average (51%). More than three-fifths (62%) said they would also consider using own-brand home and cleaning products, compared to just under half globally (49%). When it comes to own-brand beauty products, the UK  was more aligned with the global average (43% vs 41%), while 37% of UK respondents said they would consider own-brand alcoholic drinks, compared to 22% globally. 

The poll also found that 69% of shoppers will be more concerned with hygiene and sanitation when they return to physical stores, and more than half (56%) plan to shop less than they have done previously, but when they do, buy in greater quantities. Consumers are also more concerned with the price of goods than they were just a month ago, according to the poll.

Mona Bitar, EY UK&I Consumer Leader, comments: “Price has become more of a purchase criterion for UK customers than it was in April, when concerns over availability became more important. 

“Retailers have a unique opportunity to test, experiment and grow their own-brand offerings. They should give more thought to the brands stocked, focus on the right product ranges, and then reallocate resources according to priority."