The Covid-19 pandemic has affected how we communicate, how we function, and how we learn; it has impacted people on a broad and rapid scale. With that being said, it has also affected the way we do grocery shopping.
Grocery shops have had an eventful and stressful year, from chain supplies being very limited at the beginning of the pandemic to social distancing orders forming new shopping patterns. Stores were required to make changes in the way they run things: having socially distanced check-in lines, bottles of hand sanitisers at the end of every aisle, and protective plexiglass barriers at the cash registers.
Online Purchasing Has Been Going Up
Since lockdowns went into effect in the early months of 2020, grocery stores had to turn to online shopping as a result of limited movement and the possibility of exposure to the virus.
Online shopping is an excellent way to prevent physical interaction and, therefore, reduce the risk of being infected with the virus. Many grocery stores have already had the option for online ordering and the number has been increasing with each passing year.
However, the average amount of sales soared up in the second quarter of 2020, so during the start of the pandemic. Throughout 2019 and 2020 around 10 per cent of British consumers purchased online groceries once a week and only a third of responders stated that they’ve never ordered online.
People in the UK have been shopping at different retail stores however when asked which providers they have been ordering from the most, 45 per cent of them have said Tesco. In the United Kingdom, Tesco’s online grocery sector rose from around 9% in the first quarter of 2020 to 16% of overall country sales. British consumers have also been online shopping in different stores such as Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, and others.
Customers Are Spending Less Time Inside Stores
With the coronavirus pandemic still in the air, people are spending less and less time in grocery stores in comparison to how they used to. They are more concerned with getting in and out as quickly and safely as possible rather than stroll down the aisles checking different articles and products.
Usually, people already have trusted items that they frequently purchase so they are less likely to look around and linger in grocery shops where you’re exposed to the virus. Moreover, stores are more focused on restock instead of introducing new items to the customers.
Higher Costs
Many customers have had to deal with higher costs during the pandemic for certain basic food products such as meat, milk, and eggs. According to The Labor Department, in April of 2020, grocery costs had jumped up to 2.6 per cent, which was the biggest one-month increase since February 1974.
The cost for various types of food has increased including:
- Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs have gone up by 4.3 per cent
- Fruits and vegetables by 1.5 per cent
- Cereals and baking prices by 2.9 per cent
- Dairy goods by 1.5 per cent
Usage of online leaflets doubled
Due to the current pandemic situation checking online leaflets, rather than printed ones, has doubled. People are now able to better plan their shopping in an easier and safer way, therefore, lessening the chances of getting infected by taking multiple shopping trips. Not to mention that higher costs also had an impact on the usage of online leaflets.
Since people are now checking online leaflets more frequently, they are developing a savings strategy because it is easier to review products online. This, as a result, is adding to the increase in unemployment. The pandemic dramatically decreased the possibility of previous workers in foodservice and retail stores remaining in productive employment. Sustaining the health and safety of workers is crucial for maintaining a secure food supply. Many retailers have started to join platforms that gather online deals and leaflets, making websites like Kimbino gain a lot of popularity.
Budget retailer stores such as Aldi, Morrisons, and Lidl are known for offering cheap prices for various types of products. In addition, these stores along with Tesco magazine also offer online services to vulnerable customers, and with Kimbino, browse leaflets that include deals and the latest discounts in one location to make it easier for people to choose from.
Food composition data matters
Although the prices of certain pantry items are currently stable, their ability to stay in that condition in the coming months will be dictated by their ingredients, said Phil Lempert, food industry analyst and editor of SupermarketGuru in an interview for Cnbc.com.
Products that contain dairy including butter or mashed potatoes cost more and are easily spoiled since the milk, which is the main ingredient, is already up by 1.5 per cent. Checking ingredients is important to better manage health, specifically for those that seem to have been facing more challenges during the pandemic.
Home cooking
As stated by a Boston Globe experiment from 2013, a home-cooked meal for two people costs $11.84 per person, while the same meal at a chain restaurant costs more than double that—$23.84. Additionally, some restaurant and food retailers such as Tesco magazine, Lidl, Aldi, Morrisons, and others, offer discounted prices on groceries which are beneficial to help save money. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the amount of money spent on meals at home increased by 1.1 per cent from 2014 to 2015. During the same time period, however, the amount of money spent on meals outside of the house increased by 7.9%.
Will These Changes Stick Even After The Pandemic?
People feeling anxious and shopping less in stores could last for a while. According to Deloitte’s survey, more than half of customers (54%) said that shopping in stores made them feel anxious. They are avoiding malls if they have to and shopping less often as a result of their stress.
Half of the customers worldwide still feel unsafe going to supermarkets and this will result in people using online shopping as the safest alternative. In 2021, on the report of the Statista Research Department, over 40 per cent of consumers say that they will continue shopping online even after the pandemic is over.