Anthony and Brian Donnelly, established Donnelly Fresh in 1979, at Smithfield fruit market. Donnelly Fresh, who are based in Co. Dublin, grow quality, healthy, and nutritious Irish crops, in a sustainable manner. Donnelly Fresh are Bord Bia approved and proud to grow and supply the freshest pumpkins to SuperValu stores across Ireland for the last 9 years. SuperValu supports over 1800 Irish producers like Donnelly Fresh. At SuperValu, we recognise the environmental, social and economic benefits that come from supporting local and buying Irish produce. When customers choose to support local and Irish produce, for every €1 that is spent on Irish goods, €5 comes back to the Irish economy.

The post SuperValu’s pumpkins all Irish grown by Donnelly Fresh appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

The company says the decline reflects the fact that sales are still being compared against the extraordinary levels of shopping seen during the lockdowns in 2020, and spending remains 9.4% higher than in 2019.

Emer Healy, retail analyst at Kantar, comments: “It’s a nuanced picture in the grocery market at the moment.  The lifting of social restrictions and high vaccination rates mean shoppers are more comfortable going out and visiting physical stores, but they also mean people’s social calendars are filling up again.

“More socialising means we’re living less regimented lives, and with more eating at restaurants, pubs and on the go, the reliance which many had on supermarkets to get their meals last year is starting to fade.

“That is evidenced in the latest four week ending data, which shows supermarket trips are falling by 4.5% year on year and the amount bought per visit is also down 0.9%.”

Busier routines and less time to shop in store means that many people have turned to online shopping.  The latest four weeks saw online sales jump 7.1% year on year, adding €3 million to the market.

Loosening restrictions

The further loosening of social restrictions on 22 October is not expected to herald major changes for the grocery sector.

Emer Healy says: “The relaxation of restrictions in Ireland has been a gradual process and people have already been enjoying increasing freedoms, with knock-on effects at the supermarket tills.  We expect many office workers to continue to work flexibly, which will mean a mix of both in home and on-the-go eating at lunchtime.  People are already back visiting pubs and restaurants too, so there shouldn’t be a major change in that sector either.”

Shoppers are certainly eager to make the most of relaxed restrictions to enjoy calendar milestones this year.

“People will be making up for lost time with their Halloween festivities this autumn.  While there was no celebration in 2020, it looks like spooky season is back with a bang,” Emer Healy comments.

“Sales of pumpkins soared 32.1% over the past 12 weeks compared to last year, while sugar confectionery and share bags of chocolate are up 6.4% and 15.3% respectively, as people get ready for trick or treaters.”

Inflation

The past 12 weeks brought the highest levels of inflation in the grocery market since March 2021.  Prices are 0.6% higher than a year ago, with healthcare, hot beverages and frozen food the most affected categories – up 8.0%, 5.1% and 4.6% respectively.

Despite prices going up, consumer confidence is high.  Dunnes was the only retailer to recruit new shoppers this period as it and Tesco found favour through more premium items.

SuperValu continues to hold the largest share of the grocery market this month at 22.3%.  Its shoppers visited more frequently than any other retailer – on average 21 times in the past 12 weeks.

Aldi was boosted by store openings across the country and welcomed a second consecutive month with a record-breaking share – now at 12.8%.  It grew especially well in Connaught and Ulster, with sales up 6.9%, the strongest among all retailers.  Lidl held its share steady at 12.7% this period.

The post Irish shoppers go online as pace of life picks up, Kantar reveals appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.