Covering the five weeks 30 August to 3 October 2020, food sales increased 5.1% on a like-for-like basis and 5.6% on a total basis, according to the lastest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales monitor

This is higher than the 12-month total average growth of 3.8%. For the month of September, Food was in growth year-on-year.

Susan Barratt, CEO at IGD, said, “Food and grocery sales picked up again in September following a relative slowdown in August. The end of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme combined with local lockdowns, has resulted in shoppers increasing their spend in retail.

'Furthermore, late September has seen some stockpiling as shoppers react to rising COVID-19 cases and possible further restrictions, although this is far from the level of panic buying experienced in March.'

Barratt continued, “Speculation concerning further lockdown measures and a possible no deal EU exit is leading to uncertainty among shoppers, with IGD’s Shopper Confidence Index remaining low but stable.

'Confidence continues to be lower among those aged 18-24 years old, a group that is traditionally more impacted during a recession. Local lockdowns are also denting confidence among shoppers in the West Midlands and Wales.”

(source: BRC-KPMG, image: pexels)