New research from Sainsbury’s Nectar loyalty scheme has confirmed some of the nation’s main grocery shopping habits.
It found that the tradition of the weekly shop still reigns, with 74% of British consumers still doing one big shop per week. The study also revealed consumers’ priorities when it comes to scanning the aisles, with price revealed as the most important factor, followed by quality and expiration dates.
26% said they enjoy discovering new products while 38% confessed to being creatures of habit and always opting for the same types of foods.
The data found that consumers take a fairly organised approach to their food shop, with 59% planning ahead by writing a list. It also revealed that 66% believe that writing a list means that they get their shopping done in less time – with those who have pre-planned taking an average of just 24 minutes to tick everything off.
The research also explored the shopping habits people wish they could break, which included forgetting to get products that they intended to buy (33%), not planning meals ahead of time (23%), forgetting to bring their reusable bags with them (26%) and not utilising loyalty scheme promotions (12%).
It also emerged that 42% of shoppers actively seek out bargains to save money on their groceries, although 28% admitted that they wish they were savvier when purchasing food.
The retailer pointed to the advantages of its My Nectar Prices scheme which it claimed could save a weekly Sainsbury’s shopper upwards of £200 a year.
Sam Burston, director of CRM & Nectar at Sainsbury’s, said: “Ensuring that we’re offering our customers great value is something we really prioritise, but we also understand that busy lives can often mean there is little time left to plan the food shop or take advantage of all the deals on offer.
“This is why we’ve created My Nectar Prices, allowing customers to have an ever-changing selection of personalised offers at their fingertips, readily available through their phone, making their shopping experience both quicker and easier whilst saving even more on their favourite products.”
