Less shoppers stick to a weekly grocery shop routine, report finds

Just 16% of shoppers now report sticking to a weekly shop schedule, down from 26% in 2020, according to Savanta’s Grocery Eye report. 

The report has found that the weekly shop – a staple of domestic life for decades – appears to be “coming to a close” as cash-strapped and time-poor customers increasingly look for better deals across smaller shops and online. 

The Grocery Eye report, which tracks consumer attitudes every quarter, revealed that 22% of people are frustrated with how much time it takes to shop for food, while 16% reported not being rewarded for their loyalty. 

Time was revealed to be a particular concern for Gen Z, as 36% of this cohort said that taking too much time is one of their biggest frustrations with grocery shopping. 

Savanta’s latest report brought to light that shoppers are increasingly expecting more of retailers, with more saying that promotions (62%) and loyalty schemes (51%) are important to them in deciding where to shop. 

That said, the Grocery Eye report found that the food shopping experience is “a happier one” in 2023, with 27% of shoppers feeling more in control than in 2022 when only 22% reported as such.  

William Blackett, executive vice-president of consumer at Savanta, said: “The weekly food shop looks more and more like a thing of the past, as customers bounce between small shops and online shopping in an effort to save costs. 

“Our research shows this has been part of a longer-term trend, as Covid-19 and the Cost of Living Crisis upend shopper’s consuming habits.”

He added: “Retailers should be warned – consumers are increasingly demanding in what they expect from their shopping experience. The good news is that with inflation looking like it has peaked, shoppers are broadly happier now than they were a year ago.”