Media release: Under embargo until 00:01 Wednesday 30 th March 2022
Five ways the cost-of-living squeeze is changing the nation’s eating and food shopping habits Hubbub launches Ways to Save campaign to make food go further A new survey commissioned by environmental charity Hubbub, asked over 3,000 UK residents1 how the increase in the cost of living was impacting their eating and shopping habits and the following clear themes emerged: 1. People are changing where they shop - 1 in 7 have already changed the
supermarket they usually shop at (a further 13% plan to) and 1 in 4 are already shopping around to get best prices for food across a range of shops 2. People are changing how they shop - 1 in 6 are doing more “big shops” and the same number are buying groceries in store more, rather than online. 3. People are changing what they buy - 1 in 4 are choosing more own branded products, 18% are already buying more tinned/frozen foods so they last (with
16% plan to start) 4. People are eating out less – over half (54%) said they’re already eating out less which is yet another blow to the hospitality industry 5. People are wasting less - almost 1 in 4 have already started to reduce food
waste in their household (24%) and 42% agree rising cost of food is encouraging them to be more creative with using leftovers/making meals go further The survey also found 1 in 6 participants fear they will go hungry as a result of the rise in the cost of living and 1 in 4 parents2 fear their children will go hungry. Hubbub is already seeing increasing demand across its Community Fridge Network. The Network shared an estimated 3,100 tonnes of food that might otherwise have gone to waste in 2021 through its 250 fridges, [see the 2021 impact report, published