A study by customer science company dunnhumby has found that half of Irish shoppers (51%) look to buy ‘whatever brand is on promotion’ when grocery shopping, indicating that big brands need to work harder to engender customer loyalty.
The survey, of 500 shoppers, was carried out in advance of the 2017 Checkout Conference, in association with dunnhumby, Ireland’s leading retail conference, which takes place on Tuesday 31 January at Dublin’s Mansion House.
The study also found that three quarters of shoppers (75%) would like to see year-round, value-focused pricing strategies in-store, rather than short-term promotions.
In addition, one in five shoppers says that they ‘love’ grocery shopping, which suggests that brands and retailers alike could do more to engage with customers in-store.
“As this data shows, there is still a disconnect between customers and big brands in the in-store environment, with the promotion-hungry sentiment that permeated the downturn still evident,” says Stephen Wynne-Jones, editor in chief, Checkout Magazine. “The 2017 Checkout Conference, in association with dunnhumby, will examine the mindset of the typical Irish shopper as we enter a new year, and how retailers and big brands alike can better tailor their offering to meet their demands.”
The theme of this year’s Checkout Conference, in association with dunnhumby, is ‘Survive… Or Thrive’, reflecting the need for greater investment by the sector’s key players both in terms of infrastructure and customer interaction.
The Checkout Conference is the longest-running grocery retail event in the country, and is regarded as the premier business event and networking opportunity for the sector. Click here for more information.
A number of business leaders from across the retail spectrum will address this year’s event, including Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of global retail powerhouse SPAR International; Dalton Philips, Senior Advisor to The Boston Consulting Group and former CEO of UK retailer Morrisons plc, and a hugely respected retail commentator; and Michael Carey, Chairman of Bord Bia and Managing Director of biscuit startup East Coast Bakehouse.
In addition, the event will see presentations by Joe Barrett, Chief Operating Officer of Applegreen plc; Vicky Bullen, chief executive of one of London’s leading brand design agencies, Coley Porter Bell; Frank Gleeson, Region Managing Director and COO of Aramark Northern Europe; and Mike Watkins, Head of Retailer and Business Insight at Nielsen.
Finally, Robert Clarke of Empathy Research will deliver the findings of an exclusive study on the theme of ‘Healthy Living’, analysing consumer attitudes to healthy eating, while Aoife Moran and Antonia McTaggart from Facebook will look at how brands and retailers alike need to position their businesses digitally to meet the needs of a new millennial generation.
The Conference will be MCed by Colette Fitzpatrick, co-presenter of Newstalk Breakfast and Pat Kenny Tonight on TV3 while the media partner for the conference is the Sunday Business Post.
