Tough changes ahead for traditional grocers

...the supermarket industry – has grown in leaps and bounds over the past five years, with a proliferation of well stocked super markets in cities and towns throughout the island, offering attractive promotions, greater choice and self selection

The face of “grocery shopping” has undergone a sea of changes – no longer are consumers keeping the faith solely with their neighbourhood grocer, according to a Quantum Strategic Services statement.

It said as the demands of careers and life get heavier, the average consumer is drawn more and more to the convenience and attraction of super markets.

Modern retail – or the supermarket industry – has grown in leaps and bounds over the past five years, with a proliferation of well stocked super markets in cities and towns throughout the island, offering attractive promotions, greater choice and self selection. It said 90% of shoppers however still shop at traditional groceries – and over 175,000 groceries in Sri Lanka currently contribute over 85% of the retail business.

Roshani Fernando, Vice President of Quantum Strategic Services said “Over the last two years, we have been involved in performing a series of shopper observation studies. Unobtrusive observation of shopper behaviour, accompanied shopping and performing larger audits has revealed many truths and drivers of why modern trade shopping is the trend.

Researching the evolving and growing mass of urban consumers, clearly demonstrate that supermarket shopping has become the new life enhancing phenomena.”

Through its research, Quantum Strategic Services has found the shift from general grocery shopping to supermarket shopping is a means of indicating the housewife’s enhancement in the quality of her life.

“Mundane grocery shopping has turned from a drab chore into a pleasurable experience, no more is it a solitary task, the family accompanies her to the supermarket,” it said.