Save A Lot recently surveyed 600 U.S. adults to learn how the economic landscape has impacted grocery shopping, how they feed their families and friends and how they decide where to shop.
According to the survey, 79 percent of respondents say their average grocery costs have increased, compared to three months ago. Consumers are taking steps to save money including buying private label products, cooking at home more and cutting back on treats. Fifty-five percent are purchasing private label products more now than compared to a year ago.
To help meet this demand, Save A Lot has introduced 55 new private label items in the past 12 months, including Mantia’s Pizza Sauce, Kiggins Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola Bars and 12-packs of Boardwalk sodas, as well as pet food items from its Oliver & Scout product line.
“Not only do we focus on offering great economic value – we are very intentional on the product quality,” said Sally Fatzinger, Save A Lot’s VP of center store. “Our value and quality equation sets our private label products apart.”
Economic concerns put a damper on summer hosting
The majority (53 percent) of respondents said they planned to reduce their summer holiday hosting plans due to economic concerns. Those hosting cited cutting back on extras like decorations (32 percent) and cooking low-cost meals (30 percent) to keep costs manageable.
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Consumers rank price above all in grocery choices
Based on the survey, price (82 percent), followed by quality of produce (66 percent), then proximity to home (54 percent) were the top three factors for shoppers deciding where to buy groceries. In fact, nearly half of shoppers (49 percent) list price as extremely important when choosing where to shop for groceries.
The survey also found that 40 percent of shoppers are very likely to shop at a discount grocery store due to rising food costs.
“Shoppers are clearly prioritizing value, and that’s shaping where they shop, what they buy and how they provide for their families,” Fatzinger said.
“At Save A Lot, we’re committed to delivering great taste, quality and value every day. That’s why we continue to grow our private label offerings to better meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
The survey was conducted via Pollfish in June.
About Save A Lot
Founded in 1977, Save A Lot is the largest independently-owned and -operated discount grocery store chain in the U.S., with about 700 stores in 30 states.
Stores focus on offering everyday low prices on high-quality private label brands, as well as national brand products, USDA-inspected meat cut in store, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables and other non-food items.
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