There’s a new breed of food shopper according to the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), and they’re called ‘fuelies’ because they view food in the same way as petrol and diesel – as a boring but essential commodity bought on price. But it’s these ‘fuelies’ who are the key challenge for the whole grocery industry says the IGD. There’s a new breed of food shopper according to the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), and they’re called ‘fuelies’ because they view food in the same way as petrol and diesel – as a boring but essential commodity bought on price. But it’s these ‘fuelies’ who are the key challenge for the whole grocery industry says the IGD.

In a recent survey, the organisation asked consumers about their food shopping experience and most respondents saw it as ‘a tedious necessity’. The most annoying aspects were cited as items not being available and queues at the checkouts. Shoppers also complained that products were hard to find.

Speaking at the IGD’s annual convention, chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch, attributed the growth of the convenience sector to this last factor, because smaller stores mean fewer products, making items easier to find.

She warned that the grocery industry must come to grips with the issues raised or risk losing customers, particularly younger people and those with children, the two groups that were most vocal in their criticism. However, the consumers surveyed did welcome ideas to make their shopping experience quicker and easier. These included the obvious – better availability and quicker checking out; plus the not-so-obvious – advance notice of cost to prevent ‘checkout shock’, panic buttons to summon assistance and checkout runners to go and get forgotten items. Consumers also liked the idea of being rewarded for shopping and in particular having the opportunity to snack in-store.