‘Three in four changed shopping habits to battle costs’

Three in four people have changed their grocery shopping habits and making fewer shopping trips to battle rising prices, the boss of discount supermarket chain Aldi UK said on Monday (25), stating grocery inflation is easing but many Britons are still suffering in a cost-of-living crisis now into its second year.

Announcing the results, Aldi CEO Giles Hurley said, “Our own research with YouGov tells us that three in four people have changed their grocery shopping habits because of increased living costs, making fewer shopping trips, shopping with numerous supermarkets and switching their main supermarket altogether.”

He highlighted that the popularity of own-label, or private, ranges, which are generally cheaper than branded goods, was a major change in how Britons are now shopping.

“Own label now represents 54 per cent of the (UK) grocery market by value compared to 51 per cent in 2013, that’s a 3 billion pound shift in sales in just ten years,” he said.

UK food price inflation reached its highest since 1977 in March at over 19 per cent. This official measure slowed to 13.6 per cent in August and while industry data showed it at 12.2 per cent in September, rising food prices remain a major strain on the finances of many households.

“Whilst grocery inflation has started to ease, it’s clear that people remain under real pressure from its impacts,” Aldi CEO Giles Hurley told reporters.

Earlier this month, market researcher Kantar said its data showed that 95 per cent of UK consumers were still worried about the impact of rising grocery prices, matched only by their concern about energy bills, while just under a quarter of the population considered themselves to be struggling financially.