Shoppers’ top ten trolley items revealed
Fresh produce has won Kiwi shoppers over in a recent grocery popularity list.
Countdown’s Annual Trolley Report reveals which items make their way into New Zealander’s trolleys most often.
It suggests that processed foods are out and fruit and vegetables are in.
Bananas claimed the number one spot in the year to October 2016, pushing 2015’s winner Homebrand $1 white bread down to second place.
New Zealanders bought an average of 18 kilograms of bananas per person last year, irrespective of a record price spike in August.
Avocados also crept into the top five trolley items taking out the fourth spot.
Last year’s small crop but high consumer demand saw avocado prices rise nearly 6 per cent from an average of $4.48 each in June 2016 compared to $1.64 the previous year.
The Countdown Trolley Report provides an analysis of New Zealand food and grocery trends based on the purchasing behaviour of the 2.8 million people who shop at its supermarkets each week.
Other top sellers included broccoli, sweetcorn, strawberries, cucumber and red capsicum.
Shoppers tended to opt for cheaper household staples with Homebrand Standard 2 litre and 3 litre milk being the only dairy products to make the cut. Southlanders made up the majority of those purchases.
No meat products featured on the list, however, chicken was the most popular option in the meat aisle. Beef mince claimed a close second.
Nutritionist
Nellie
Pigot believes fresh produce popularity is the result of global health food trends.
‘‘There is a growing awareness through sources such as the media, social networks, the explosion of healthy cafes and better stocked supermarkets around New Zealand of the importance of eating a healthy diet,’’ Pigot said.
She said she has noticed more people becoming vegetarian and vegan.
‘‘It is hard to avoid the evidence of research carried out that shows that those who eat more fruit and vegetables and less animal products and refined foods have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and obesity,’’ Pigot said.
Countdown noticed shoppers shifted towards health foods in 2014 which led it to introduce health and nutritional aisles across 122 supermarkets.
Countdown’s merchandise general manager Chris Fisher said it was an ongoing focus as well as meeting their health and nutrition targets launched late last year.
‘‘We’re also seeing more and more Kiwis choose free-range and organic products,’’ Fisher said in the report.
Countdown’s managing director Dave Chambers said customers can expect to see more innovative products with less sugar, sodium and fat hit the shelves this year.
Although, shoppers still love their sugary and salty favourites.
Snickers, Cadbury dairy milk and Whittakers limited edition jelly tip were the most loved chocolate bars and ready salted were the most sought after potato chip flavour.
The report also shows conscious consumers are giving more thought to the environment.
Purchases of reusable grocery bags has increased about 130 per cent in the past year with 430,000 bags bought nationwide.