Foodservice in Retail: Incl Impact of COVID-19 - US  

“While COVID-19 has forced many retailers to scale back high-contact self-serve prepared food offerings, foodservice will emerge from the pandemic more essential than ever to grocery retailers’ long-term growth prospects but will also face even greater competition. Now is the time for retailers to explore expanded menus and ways to deliver even greater convenience and simplicity.”

- John Owen, Associate Director – Food and Retail

This Report looks at the following areas:

Electric and Hybrid Cars: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK  

“Demand for new hybrid and electric cars is growing. Although currently a much smaller sector than cars powered by traditional petrol or diesel, sales are outstripping both of these established markets. Based on our forecasts, potentially half of new cars could be hybrid, plug-in hybrid or 100% electrically powered by the middle of the coming decade.”

- Neil Mason, Retail Category Director

This report will look at the following areas:

• The impact of COVID-19 on the hybrid and electric car market.

• Shopping in Outlets - China  
  Shopping in Outlets - China

  

  “Shopping in outlets is a new trend driven by consumption upgrading and increasing demand for domestic shopping. Outlets used to be attractive because of their brands and prices. But now, for outlets, providing consumer-friendly entertainment facilities with comprehensive brand portfolios is key to luring more footfalls, since consumers are beginning to treat outlet visits as a family trip or leisure activity. Meanwhile, speeding up digitalization to give consumers more access to outlets, as well as attracting and keeping high-end shoppers during and after the outbreak will maximize revenue in the long term.” – Jocelyn Dong, Research Analyst
• European Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  European Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  “European supermarkets and discounters stand out in terms of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic having experienced a strong uptick in demand for food and essentials during 2020. Since the beginning of the outbreak, we have seen all the leading retailers quickly adapting to the new circumstances, with a plethora of innovations in technology to ensure the safety of their staff and customers. Even those that didn’t previously offer home delivery have ventured into this area and we have even seen partnerships with delivery and fulfilment businesses like Deliveroo and Uber Eats to allow people to shop online.”Armando Falcao, European Retail Analyst
• UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  There is only one place to start in reviewing 2020 and that is of course the global pandemic which has shifted so much of consumer behaviour. A hopefully once in a generation event, COVID-19 has served to not only overnight change behaviour, but most notably accelerate the shifts in the market we had been seeing over the past decade.
• Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Spain  
  Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Spain

  

  “Mercadona remains the undisputed market leader in grocery retailing in Spain but other leading players have been increasing their market share, especially discounter Lidl, which could have a potential advantage over supermarkets due to tighter budgets and economic recession resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Grocers could see at least 6.4% growth in the full year 2020, as we have seen a strong shift to online shopping even in sectors underdeveloped in ecommerce, such as grocery retailing in Spain.”– Armando Falcao, European Retail Analyst
• Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - France  
  Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - France

  

  “59% of French grocery shoppers said that the COVID-19 outbreak has given them more appreciation of the importance of grocery retailers and the two strict lockdowns in the country has emphasised the key role these retailers play in society. Pre-existing trends are being accelerated by the epidemic, and retailers need to work hard to retain new online shoppers, while reassuring people that shopping in-store is safe. Price looks set to become even more of a focus as the economic impact of the epidemic filters through. This should work to the benefit of the discount sector, where Aldi has acquired the 500+ strong Leader Price chain of stores.”– Natalie Macmillan, Senior European Retail Analyst
• Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Italy  
  Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Italy

  

  “Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, the focus of many Italian households was on price and value when it came to grocery shopping and this played into the hands of the discounters. With rising unemployment and reduced household disposable incomes for many in 2021, these pressures will only increase, so we expect discounters to gain further share. However, the likes of Conad and Coop have the tools to respond to the threat posed by the discounters, each having a strong and growing own label range, while their cooperative structures play into the trends towards community, localism and sustainability.”– Michael Oliver, Senior Retail Analyst
• Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Europe  
  Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - Europe

  

  “European supermarkets and discounters stand out in terms of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic having experienced a strong uptick in demand for food and essentials during 2020. Since the beginning of the outbreak, we have seen all the leading retailers quickly adapting to the new circumstances, with a plethora of innovations in technology to ensure the safety of their staff and customers. Even those that didn’t previously offer home delivery have ventured into this area and we have even seen partnerships with delivery and fulfilment businesses like Deliveroo and Uber Eats to allow people to shop online.”– Armando Falcao, European Retail Analyst
• Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK  
  Supermarkets: Inc Impact of COVID-19 - UK

  

  “COVID-19 will bring a record year for the grocery sector in terms of sales and 2020 will also be the year to mark a rebalancing of the sector. A legacy boost to online will naturally take more demand away from large-format stores and will mean a further rethink about how super and hypermarkets in the UK are utilised by the leading grocery retailers.”– Nick Carroll, Associate Director of Retail Research
• Food and Drink Shopper: Incl Impact of COVID-19 - US  
  Food and Drink Shopper: Incl Impact of COVID-19 - US

  

  “While the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated innovation in food and drink retail and motivated behavior changes among food and drink shoppers, its biggest impact on the industry may have been to amplify the underlying emotional benefits of the task. More than ever, food and drink shopping is a way to care for family and maintain a sense of control in a situation that otherwise feels out of control.”– John Owen, Associate Director – Food and Retail
• UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  UK Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  A second lockdown will deal a further blow to the already struggling fashion sector during peak trading, but there are opportunities for retailers to drive sales through the use of digital tools. Virtual shopping appointments for gift recommendations, livestreaming shopping sessions and digital fit technology can all help improve the online experience and encourage consumers to buy from the comfort of their home.
• European Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19  
  European Retail Briefing: Inc Impact of COVID-19

  

  As England comes out of another lockdown, and other regions see varying levels of restrictions, consumers are likely to have reverted back to BPC behaviours seen during the first lockdown. Professional services in particular will be impacted as consumers turn to DIY beauty routines, but with Christmas around the corner people can be encouraged to spend.