Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on food and drink retail purchasing patterns in Scotland

Summary

This report provides information on retail purchase of food and drink in Scotland between January and July 2020, compared with 2019, using data from Kantar. 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how we purchase and consume food. This report demonstrates an increase in retail purchasing few weeks prior to the national lockdown and beyond compared to 2019, with a steep increase occurring in the week immediately preceding the national lockdown.

The data presented relates to retail purchasing in Scotland, and refers to take home purchases. It does not include food and drink purchased for consumption outside the home (OOH). Therefore, some or all of the increases in household purchasing from food retailers seen post lockdown will reflect a reduction in food and drink purchased and consumed from the eating out of the home sector and do not necessarily mean more food and drink has been purchased overall. Additionally, the advice to stay at home and the closure of schools and many workplaces will have contributed to changes in purchasing patterns moving from out of home to retail purchases into the home.

Key findings include:

• Purchase of total food and drink was 44% higher in the week before lockdown began (4th week of March 2020), compared to the same week in 2019. There continued to be a higher purchase of food and drink between April and July 2020 compared to 2019.
• The average number of retail trips per household was 42% higher in the week preceding lockdown compared to the same week in 2019. During the first week of lockdown, the number of retail trips were lower compared to the same week in 2019, and remained approximately 1 retail trip per household less, per week between April and July.
• Compared to 2019, we generally purchased more food and drink from discounters and small retailers/convenience stores between March and July 2020.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
• Similar to the overall increase in purchase of total food and drink, purchase of calories, total carbohydrates, total sugar, fibre, total fat, saturated fat and salt (reported as sodium) were considerably higher in the few weeks just before the national lockdown (March 2020) compared the same weeks in 2019. There continued to be an increased purchase of calories and nutrients between April and July 2020 compared to 2019.
• All food and drink categories explored demonstrated a steep increase in purchase during the week immediately before lockdown compared to the same week in 2019. This was particularly prominent within sweet home cooking (90%), canned goods (115%), savoury home cooking (121%) and ambient carbohydrates and snacks (130%). In most instances, purchases remained consistently higher throughout April to July.
• Purchase of total alcoholic drinks was predominantly lower pre-lockdown compared to the same weeks in 2019. Afterwards it remained consistently higher, peaking at 59% higher during week 4 of March 2020. A similar pattern was found for individual types of alcoholic drinks.

FSS will continue to monitor weekly purchasing patterns during 2020 to explore the impact of the COVID-19 on retail food and drink purchasing patterns in Scotland.

A further report outlining purchasing patterns from July until December 2020 will be published in 2021. This report will include additional detail on purchase by social class, price promotion and online delivery for 2020 as a whole.