Grocery retailers must up their festive games, IGD

The UK grocery market is set to experience 2.6% growth this Christmas, with shoppers spending £22.2 billion, according to IGD.

Vanessa Henry, Shopper Insight Manager at IGD, says: “Despite some concerns about costs, shoppers still see this time of year as the main chance to treat themselves and their families. But this doesn’t necessarily mean spending more. Our research shows us that shoppers are being savvier with their spending to ensure they don’t have to sacrifice on quality, with more shopping around at several stores to seek out the best deal as opposed to buying cheaper products. We’re also seeing shoppers trying to get ahead of the season’s spending by starting their purchases earlier in the year to spread the cost.”

“Retailers will need to work harder to strengthen their in-store offer to stand out. Our data shows lots of opportunities for this kind of engagement, particularly with shoppers being more likely to impulse purchase and try new products at this time of year.”