Consumers are snubbing the bars and restaurants to dine at home
CONSUMERS ARE ditching bars, pubs and restaurants in favour of eating at home as they try to avoid catching Covid- 19.
The latest grocery market share figures from Kantar show that take- home grocery sales jumped 10.6 per cent over the last four weeks, an acceleration from September.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: “Shoppers are moving a greater proportion of their eating and drinking back into the home.
“This is likely a response to rising Covid- 19 infection rates, greater restrictions on opening hours in the hospitality sector, and the end of the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
“Alcohol sales alone were worth £ 261m more to the grocers this month than last year, with pubs, bars and restaurants limited by the 10pm curfew.”
Bradford- based Morrisons was once again the star performer among the big four, with sales rising 11.5 per cent in the 12 weeks to October 4.
Mr McKevitt said one reason for Morrisons’ outperformance is that it offers far more promotions than its rivals.
“That seems to be resonating with Morrisons’ shopper base,” he said.
Kantar said market leader Tesco came second among the big four, with a 9.2 per cent increase in sales. Sainsbury’s was third with a 6.8 per cent rise in sales and Leeds- based Asda was fourth with a 5.4 per cent rise in sales.
Mr McKevitt said Asda is being held back by its estate of large stores.
“Asda’s store estate puts it in a difficult position at a time of pandemic,” he said.
“Those large stores, that people typically travel further to, are not necessarily what people are looking for.”
Despite an increase in Covid- 19 transmissions and tightening restrictions, Mr McKevitt said there is only limited evidence of consumers stockpiling goods at a national level in the past month.
Kantar said that more people are shopping online as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Alcohol sales alone were worth £ 261m more to the grocers this month. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar