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Footfall increases
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The proportion of shoppers visiting convenience stores increased by 9% in the 12 weeks ending 17 October, new research reveals.
The latest data from the Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme shows the proportion of shoppers using c-stores rose from 49% to 58% in the past 12 weeks. During the same period, shoppers visited convenience stores more frequently, up 4% to 2.8 times per week on average, while basket value increased by 21% from £8.58 per trip to £10.38 despite a slight fall in the number of items purchased per visit. In addition, the proportion of convenience store basket shops that were homedelivered increased by 2% to 7%.
The percentage of shoppers using local food shops has increased, according to new data.
The research shows planned top-up remains the primary mission within convenience, accounting for 23% of all trips. Newsagent missions increased by 2% to 21%, driven by older consumers becoming less risk averse due to the rollout of booster vaccines.
The proportion of shoppers purchasing on impulse increased by 1% during the 12-week period, to account for 56% of purchases. The reason: “It was on promotion/special offer” increased as a stimulus for impulse buying, and purchasing of price-marked packs increased to 48%.
Katherine Prowse, Senior Insight Manager at Lumina Intelligence, said: “A real positive for UK convenience is the large increase in spend per trip and the increased frequency. The decrease in basket size indicates that either shoppers are opting for more premium products or prices have increased, probably a combination of the two.”
E-cigarettes could soon be prescribed to help quit smoking
Vaping products could soon be prescribed on the NHS in England to help people stop smoking tobacco, in the latest step forward in the licensing process for manufacturers.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published updated guidance for licensing electronic cigarettes and other inhaled nicotinecontaining products as medicines, which paves the way for medicinally licensed items to be prescribed for tobacco smokers who wish to quit smoking.
The updated guidance comes after a consultation with the E-Cigarette Expert Working Group, a group of UK experts who provided independent oversight and advice to the MHRA.
To achieve a licence, products would need to meet the standards of quality, safety, and efficacy expected of medicinal products.
If a product receives MHRA approval, clinicians could then decide on a case-bycase basis whether it would be appropriate to prescribe an e-cigarette to NHS patients to help them quit smoking.
The government is soon set to publish a new Tobacco Control Plan, which will set out the roadmap for achieving a smoke-free England by 2030.
Retailers call for answers over unclear HFSS regulations
Retail groups have written to government with a list of questions regarding proposed new restrictions on “unhealthy” food.
Business and retail groups, including the Association of Convenience Stores and the British Retail Consortium, have called for more clarity ahead of the introduction in England of new regulations that aim to limit the placement and promotion of ‘high fat, salt and sugar’ (HFSS) products.
Products included in the scope of the rules – which are due to come into force in October 2022 – include soft drinks, yogurts, breakfast cereals, ready meals and pastries, in addition to cakes, biscuits, crisps, and confectionery. From next October, stores above 2,000sq ft in size face not being able to put any of these products at the store entrance, at the checkout, near a queuing area, or at the end of an aisle.
A list of 25 questions, submitted to government ahead of MPs considering the rules, highlights the confusion that retailers face when deciding where they can locate products, and what they can and can’t promote in-store. The questions also look for clarity on fundamental parts of the regulations, such as how retailers calculate the size of their stores and the nutritional profile of their products.
One particular area of confusion surrounds the future of meal deals and ‘big night in’ promotions, and whether retailers can promote HFSS products alongside non-food items.
The ACS has estimated that small shops could face a £13,000 bill to comply with the regulations, while larger stores face costs of up to £100,000 to rethink their store layouts.
Nearly one-fifth of consumers list the environment as their main motivator for healthy and sustainable eating, research from IGD reveals.
The figure represents a significant increase compared to 2020, while 77% of shoppers have increased or are thinking about increasing their fruit and vegetable intake, the survey says.
The research shows consumers are increasingly looking to adopt more healthy and sustainable diets, with 58% open to changing their eating habits. The study also found there has been a rise in people eating meat only twice a week or less.
Mark Little, Director of Health and Sustainability at IGD, said: “From effective marketing and product placement to meal planning and recipe inspiration, there are lots of really practical actions businesses can take to help make sure consumers continue to shift towards healthy and sustainable diets.”
