Monitoring retail purchase and price promotions in Scotland (2014 - 2018)

Summary

This report provides information on retail purchase and price promotions in Scotland between 2014 and 2018, using data from Kantar.  It follows on from data last published by FSS in 2018. You can access this report here.

This current report updates previous key findings and provides further insights into price promotions, and pack sizes of confectionery and crisps and savoury snacks.

Key findings include:

• Purchase of calories, total fat, saturated fat and sodium increased between 2014 and 2018, whilst purchase of total sugar decreased over this time frame
• Discretionary foods continue to contribute disproportionately to total purchase of calories, fats and sugars, and there has been little change since 2014
• Purchase of regular soft drinks decreased, leading to a reduction in total sugar purchased from soft drinks. Despite this welcome reduction, there was also a large increase in purchase of regular soft drinks exempt from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL)  
• In 2018, 32% of calories were purchased on price promotion, decreasing from 41% in 2014 and 2015. Purchase on promotions remains skewed towards less healthy and discretionary products, such as confectionery, cakes, biscuits, pastries and crisps
• Multipacks were the most common pack type purchased within the crisps and savoury snacks category, whilst sharing packs were the most common pack type purchased within confectionery

This report complements and adds to the evidence base which supports action to limit the availability, marketing and promotion of high fat/salt/sugar products, as recommended by FSS