UK supermarkets experienced a continued decline in volume sales during the four weeks ending 28 January 2023, as shoppers reined in their grocery spend post-Christmas, new NielsenIQ reveals.
The data shows that although Total Till grocery sales rose by 7.6% in the past four weeks, this was due to an increase in food price inflation, which reached new highs of 13.8% in January. The decline in shopper spend is reflected in the 6.9% decrease in volume sales. This is the lowest volume growth recorded in more than nine months, and reflects the concern shoppers have about cost-of-living increases.
UK supermarkets experienced a very slow first week of January due to the bank holidays, but NielsenIQ data shows that weekly value growths improved to +6.0% at the end of the month, which coincides with the first monthly payday of the year for many shoppers.
Nevertheless, many shoppers likely tried to shop to a fixed budget to save money and focused on essentials, with bakery (+12.6%), dairy (+11.5%), pet food/care (+10.4%) and frozen sales (+8.9%) all experiencing an increase in value sales. However, fresh produce value sales fell -3.6%, while value sales for beers, wines and spirits declined -4.7% (with volumes -8.5%). Volume sales for meat and poultry also fell 10%.
The NielsenIQ data also reveals that sales were strongest at bricks and mortar stores (+9.4%) with a -8.7% fall in online sales.
In terms of retailer performance, the discounters continued to show strong momentum with sales growth of almost 20% compared to the same time last year.
Mike Watkins, NielsenIQ’s UK Head of Retailer and Business Insight, said: “We expect a challenging first quarter for the grocery industry, with inflation very much top of mind for shoppers. As a result, shoppers will continue to trade down to cheaper brands or private label products. In January we have seen private Label sales grow in household by +16.5%, ambient grocery by +16.8% and frozen by +20.2%4.
“Also, when consumers are cash poor, they also shop more frequently and across more retailers, because they can only afford to shop for groceries ‘little and more often’ to help manage household budgets. This will probably continue until Easter, when family gatherings and hopefully better weather gives a boost to sales.”
