Retail Insight: Shoppers expect more focus on food waste reduction

Retail Insight: Shoppers expect more focus on food waste reduction Price-sensitive and sustainably-minded shoppers are pushing retailers to address food waste reduction and improve markdowns, according to the latest research from Retail Insight, the leading provider of in-store execution software. Original research of over 1,000 UK shoppers by Retail Insight showed that 70 per cent believe that, rather than addressing ‘mainstream’ sustainability efforts, such as recycling, retailers should focus their ESG sustainability efforts on food waste reduction. A further 70 per cent felt there wasn’t currently enough focus on food waste reduction in retailers’ sustainability goals, rising to 74 per cent for both Gen Z and Millennial consumers. More than seven in ten (72 per cent) shoppers felt that retailers and consumers need to work more collaboratively to shift the dial on climate change, rising to 80 per cent of Millennials. This call for collaboration highlights the key role food waste management plays; retailers want to waste less and sell more, and consumers want access to good value while being sustainability conscious. Three quarters (74 per cent) of shoppers polled by Retail Insight said they were also actively trying to cut down food bills, with two-fifths (38 per cent) now only buying reduced-price groceries, rising to 55 per cent of Millennials. This underscores the role markdowns can play in making household budgets work harder.