Recent shifts in shopping trends suggest that small format really is the future, according to him! research & consulting. Only 70% of UK households claim to do a ‘regular, main shop’ and 85% say they are doing a smaller top up shop somewhere every, at least once a week.

“If we look at who is capturing these smaller, top up shop, it’s smaller format stores and to a certain extent the discounters,” commented Katie Littler, Communications Director at him! “The most important thing to these ‘routine top up’ shoppers is convenience, this includes convenient location, parking, speed of service and not having to traipse around a large store looking for the 3 or 4 products they needs. As long as the range is right, small format stores are well equipped to meet these needs.” 

him! revealed that fresh categories continue to be the differentiator on who wins these valuable ‘top up’ shoppers. “An increasing proportion of UK shoppers are now trusting smaller format stores for fresh products – in 2005 6% of shoppers bought fresh fruit & vegetables in convenience stores, now that figures is 10%,” said Littler. 

Shoppers are using an increasing number of retailers to fulfil their monthly grocery shopping needs, suggesting footfall for these smaller, regular shops is also up for grabs.