Brits aim to change food habits as coronavirus looms large
The experience of numerous coronavirus lockdowns has prompted 78% of Brits to change the way they think about and consume their food, according to research by ThoughtWorks.
This ranges from the amount they throw away to where and how they buy it.
The software consultancy surveyed 2,007 people and also found that, as a result of remote working, 31% will look to buy more locally produced food to support their local economies and communities going forward.
Meanwhile, just under a quarter have become more conscious of the environmental impact of their shopping choices during lockdown.
The same proportion vowed to reduce the number of products with a high cost to the environment (e.g. non-recyclable plastic, palm oil) in their weekly shop.
22% were prompted to purchase their food and drink from a wider range of sites during lockdown, and would continue to do so in the long-term.
This was particularly true of younger people, who were twice as likely to continue looking further afield for their groceries as their parents’ generation (34% of under 35s vs. 12% of over 55s).
Similarly, 29% of this younger generation would continue to buy food from typically ‘non-food’ brands (e.g. Amazon) – a habit many had adopted in lockdown. People aged under 35 were six times as likely as those over 55 to do this (29% vs 5%).
Kevin Flynn, Director of retail strategy at ThoughtWorks, comments: “Things that were once ‘added extras’ that were nice to have – such as as locally sourced products or next day delivery – are rapidly becoming standard.”
“Similarly, people are now used to looking further and wider to get the things they need, and quick to disregard anything that does not meet their heightened standards. This is a watershed moment for the retail industry.”
He concludes: “Covid-19 has accelerated change in the way people use data and technology. The world in which businesses operate after the pandemic will be seismically different to the world they knew before.”
Sign up for our free retail technology newsletter here.
