The ongoing struggle for the time available for online shopping during the successive lockdowns has meant that shoppers cannot remain loyal to the supermarket of their choice, according to new research by the Shoppercentric agency. During the latest lockdown, Aldi and ASDA are at the forefront of attracting more new customers in store and online than other leading supermarkets, according to new research by shopper insights specialist Shoppercentric. When asked which supermarket was visited for the first time during the last lockdown, 7% answered Aldi, 6% ASDA and 5% Tesco in the main supermarket, Tesco Metro and Tesco Express. Only 4% of respondents said Lidl or Sainsbury’s / Sainsbury’s Local, while only 2% said Morrison’s. Although the figures for Tesco and Sainsbury’s are understandably lower due to the large number of people who had visited one of their stores before, the data shows that Aldi of the others is the most successful in attracting shoppers looking for savings offers.

Meanwhile, Co-op has said it will refund € 17.8 million of leave payments to the government it requested in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, but will retain its business tax deduction. The co-op States in a press release that it accepted the state aid in good faith, did not expect to have to repay the money and took forward-looking business decisions on that basis. The amount allowed the company to fully support its staff and to keep open 3,400 food shops and undertakers located in the community. Allan Leighton, the chairman of the Co-operative Group, commented on this decision, as follows: “The Co-op has a critical and unique role to play in feeding and taking care of the people during the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to do so as and when the vaccination programme is to be rolled out.”