Which categories and missions to focus on this Autumn

As the long summer days give way to chilly darker evenings, it signals the arrival of Autumn. Whilst traditionally this would lead to people switching on their central heating, the steep increase in energy costs means this year is likely to be very different.  energy, fuel, food price and interest rates having risen to unprecedented levels this year, many people are struggling to make ends meet, so this is likely to be an Autumn like no other.

Within this article, we have pulled together advice to help you prepare your store for the Autumn season to ensure you are catering for their new priorities.  In addition, Partners for Growth has also published an article detailing how to minimise the impact of Cost of Living to support retailers in these troubling times.

 

What you should be focusing on for Autumn

Key drivers of sales in Autumn include, the return to school and events such as Halloween, Bonfire night, and preparing the store for Christmas. For retailers this means a resurgence of lunchboxes, quick on-the-go meals such as Pot Snacks, and catering for quick and easy evening meals.

Autumn traditionally sees a surge in scratch cooking, as preparing the evening meal becomes more of a social event for some, however it is expected to be even more pronounced this Autumn due to the increased number of ‘struggling’ shoppers turning to scratch cooking as a means of saving money.

By focusing on key relevant categories, adjusting your ranges accordingly, and working hard to maintain your store margin, you can help your business navigate through these challenging times.

 

Review your Cooking Sauces 

With the UK renowned for putting in some of the longest working hours in Europe(2), in recent years we’ve become a nation that is more engaged with scratch cooking. And like many in-home behaviours, Covid helped accelerate this, driving 708 million more ‘Scratch cooking occasions’ (+6%)(3).  

As the nights draw in and children get back into the school routine, parents want easy, quick to prepare meal solutions, and this drives a seasonal jump in Cooking Sauces sales. In fact, research shows that approximately 70% of shoppers don’t know what they are going to have for dinner that evening, and as Cooking Sauces provide ideas for what to cook and only require a small amount of ingredients they offer the perfect solution for a ‘Meal for Tonight’.

To help your customers find the right meal solutions and optimise your Cooking Sauces sales, your displays should communicate these ‘quick meal solutions’ and fixtures need to be easy to navigate. Should space allow, why not group some grocery and dry goods together – for example, mince, tomato sauce, pasta and cheese – as inspiration for customers. And don’t forget to offer meat free and plant based meal solutions as these will continue to grow ahead of meat-based products; the average cost of a meat free meal is £0.88 versus £1.81 where meat or fish is included(4).

Unilever Category Director, Kat Simpson, says, “When it comes to selling cooking sauces, retailers need to think about the end meal, rather than just the individual product.  Make it easy for shoppers to find the other key elements that will make up the meal and encourage trial of cooking sauces by placing signage up near the chilled chicken, mince etc.”

As cooking sauces is a growing market with plenty of innovation, it pays to take time to review the latest Cooking Sauces advice to make sure you offer your customers a comprehensive range of best-selling SKU’s.

Focus on Pot Snacks to make the most of back to school and university

With the return to school and work, Pot Snacks present shoppers with a quick and convenient snack option. They require no pre-planning, preparation or chilling unlike a homemade sandwich or salad, and can be consumed either out of home – for example in offices and work places such as building sites – or in home or student residences as a quick bite to eat. 

The snacking category is worth a total of £24M to the convenience channel, with Pot Snacks dominating with a 62% share, but block noodles have been steadily growing as part of the positive trend towards ‘in-home’ dining(5). 

In fact, 50% of Pot Snacks are consumed at lunchtime and 70% eaten ‘on the go’ with a soft drink, making it a valuable category to retailers where lunchtime trade is high. 

With 8 out of 10 Pot Snacks being bought on impulse, and with the typical customer pushed for time, retailers can maximise impulse purchases by making sure Pot Snacks are highly visible and located in high traffic areas and King Pot is stocked to trade customers up.

Getting the snacking display right for the surrounding local audience has proven to be key to increasing basket spend, so we would urge you to make sure you are stocking the right range of best sellers to ensure you are making the most of this unique and valuable snacking option.

Make the most of the Big Night In

The Big Night in occasion saw an increase in popularity during the pandemic, as a result of hospitality venues being closed in line with lockdown restrictions. It is set to see another jump in popularity this Autumn, because of the unprecedented rise in the cost of living, meaning the many shoppers looking to make their weekly budget go further, may well choose to stay at home when they socialise, rather than go out. This presents a big opportunity for convenience retailers that get behind the Big Night In event in their stores.

And with colder weather on the way and major sporting and cultural events such as football matches, Strictly and I’m a Celebrity back on TV this Autumn, together with the diverse number of streaming services available, entertaining at home presents an attractive option to bring people together. It would be fair to say that for many, staying in has become the new going out! 

The Big Night In mission presents huge incremental sales opportunities for retailers across a number of categories, including soft drinks, pot snacks, crisps and snacks, beers, wines and spirits, fresh and chilled, meal solutions and of course confectionery and ice cream – check out our Ice Cream category advice.

There are many ways retailers can make the most of the Big Night In opportunity, so check them out in this article: Making the most of the big night in

 

  1. Kantar, value sales 52 w/e 27.12.20 vs previous year
  2. Office of National Statistics, Labour Force Survey, Eurostat
  3. Kantar usage 52w/e May 2021
  4. Kantar 9th September 2020
  5. Kantar 52 w/e July 11th 2021

Share this article

Recommended for you…

You May Also Like

Share your thoughts…

539 Responses

  1. Wow! I’m in awe of the author’s writing skills and capability to convey intricate concepts in a straightforward and clear manner. This article is a real treasure that merits all the praise it can get. Thank you so much, author, for sharing your wisdom and providing us with such a priceless treasure. I’m truly grateful!

  2. One thing is that one of the most popular incentives for utilizing your credit card is a cash-back or maybe rebate present. Generally, you’ll get 1-5 back with various purchases. Depending on the credit cards, you may get 1 back again on most buying, and 5 in return on expenses made using convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores as well as ‘member merchants’.

  3. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

  4. In accordance with my observation, after a foreclosed home is available at an auction, it is common to the borrower in order to still have any remaining balance on the loan. There are many lenders who make an effort to have all service fees and liens paid by the up coming buyer. Nonetheless, depending on specific programs, rules, and state regulations there may be several loans that are not easily sorted out through the exchange of personal loans. Therefore, the obligation still lies on the client that has obtained his or her property foreclosed on. Thanks for sharing your ideas on this blog.

  5. I?ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site. Studying this info So i am happy to show that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to do not omit this web site and give it a look regularly.

  6. This article is absolutely incredible! The author has done a tremendous job of delivering the information in an captivating and enlightening manner. I can’t thank her enough for providing such valuable insights that have certainly enlightened my knowledge in this subject area. Hats off to him for producing such a gem!

  7. of course like your website however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the reality then again I will certainly come again again.

  8. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I?ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.

  9. Have you ever considered creating an ebook or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based upon on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would enjoy your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.

  10. I think other website proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and wonderful user genial style and design, as well as the content. You are an expert in this topic!

  11. In these days of austerity and relative panic about incurring debt, some people balk against the idea of employing a credit card in order to make purchase of merchandise or perhaps pay for any occasion, preferring, instead just to rely on the actual tried along with trusted means of making transaction – hard cash. However, if you’ve got the cash available to make the purchase fully, then, paradoxically, that is the best time for them to use the card for several motives.

  12. Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and just couldn’t come across. What a great web site.

  13. I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road. Cheers

  14. Somebody essentially help to make significantly posts I’d state. That is the very first time I frequented your web page and so far? I surprised with the research you made to make this particular publish incredible. Great process!

  15. Through my observation, shopping for electronics online may be easily expensive, yet there are some tricks and tips that you can use to acquire the best offers. There are generally ways to come across discount discounts that could help to make one to come across the best electronic devices products at the cheapest prices. Good blog post.

  16. Good day! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

  17. Hey there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks

  18. What i don’t understood is actually how you’re no longer really a lot more smartly-appreciated than you may be right now. You’re so intelligent. You already know thus significantly when it comes to this matter, made me in my view imagine it from so many various angles. Its like men and women are not involved unless it?s something to do with Girl gaga! Your own stuffs great. Always deal with it up!

  19. The subsequent time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I do know it was my option to learn, but I actually thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you would repair in the event you werent too busy on the lookout for attention.

  20. I would also like to add when you do not now have an insurance policy otherwise you do not form part of any group insurance, chances are you’ll well benefit from seeking the help of a health broker. Self-employed or individuals with medical conditions typically seek the help of any health insurance specialist. Thanks for your blog post.

  21. My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different page and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking into your web page yet again.

  22. I have noticed that in cameras, specialized receptors help to {focus|concentrate|maintain focus|target|a**** automatically. Those kind of sensors with some video cameras change in contrast, while others use a beam associated with infra-red (IR) light, specifically in low light. Higher specification cameras at times use a blend of both models and will often have Face Priority AF where the photographic camera can ‘See’ your face while keeping your focus only in that. Thank you for sharing your thinking on this blog site.

  23. Wow! I’m in awe of the author’s writing skills and ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and clear manner. This article is a true gem that earns all the applause it can get. Thank you so much, author, for providing your wisdom and providing us with such a priceless treasure. I’m truly appreciative!

  24. Good ? I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task..

  25. Thanks for discussing your ideas in this article. The other issue is that every time a problem arises with a laptop or computer motherboard, individuals should not consider the risk with repairing it themselves because if it is not done right it can lead to permanent damage to an entire laptop. It is almost always safe just to approach a dealer of that laptop for any repair of that motherboard. They will have technicians who’ve an knowledge in dealing with pc motherboard complications and can carry out the right analysis and perform repairs.

  26. One thing I want to say is the fact that before getting more laptop memory, check out the machine in which it could well be installed. If the machine can be running Windows XP, for instance, the particular memory ceiling is 3.25GB. Applying over this would just constitute just a waste. Make certain that one’s motherboard can handle the actual upgrade amount, as well. Interesting blog post.

  27. I figured out more interesting things on this fat reduction issue. Just one issue is that good nutrition is especially vital any time dieting. A massive reduction in bad foods, sugary meals, fried foods, sweet foods, beef, and whitened flour products may be necessary. Retaining wastes parasites, and wastes may prevent objectives for losing fat. While a number of drugs quickly solve the problem, the bad side effects are certainly not worth it, and they also never offer you more than a momentary solution. This is a known incontrovertible fact that 95 of fad diet plans fail. Thank you for sharing your ideas on this weblog.

  28. I am really enjoying the theme/design of your weblog. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A few of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any solutions to help fix this problem?

  29. A person necessarily help to make critically posts I might state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and so far? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular post extraordinary. Excellent job!

  30. Howdy very nice web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally?I am satisfied to find so many useful info here in the publish, we’d like develop extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  31. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

  32. Need an emergency plumber near you? Plumber On Call provides local 24h plumbing services across East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Greater London and parts of Kent.

  33. Thanks for the concepts you have discussed here. In addition, I believe there are a few factors that keep your car insurance premium down. One is, to consider buying motors that are inside good listing of car insurance corporations. Cars which might be expensive tend to be more at risk of being snatched. Aside from that insurance policies are also in accordance with the value of the car, so the costlier it is, then the higher the actual premium you make payment for.

  34. I believe that avoiding processed foods is the first step for you to lose weight. They might taste fine, but refined foods contain very little vitamins and minerals, making you try to eat more in order to have enough strength to get with the day. If you’re constantly taking in these foods, transferring to grain and other complex carbohydrates will assist you to have more energy while ingesting less. Great blog post.

  35. I just could not go away your site before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the usual info an individual supply in your guests? Is going to be again frequently to check out new posts

  36. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all people you really recognize what you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also talk over with my web site =). We will have a hyperlink alternate arrangement among us!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *