New Acosta Covid-19 Report Reveals 75 Percent of Shoppers Plan to Stick to Some of their New Habits Post-Covid

Acosta, an integrated sales and marketing services provider in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry, today released findings from its most recent Covid-19 shopper insights study. The research found that while the pandemic concern level is finally on the decline, shoppers acknowledge it will be a long time before things return to normal. Shopping and eating behaviors dramatically changed last year, and many shoppers plan to continue those new habits post-Covid-19.

“With vaccines rolling out, our latest shopper research shows Covid-19 concern levels may finally be waning, with current concern at 7.5 out of 10 — the lowest level reported since early March 2020. Even still, consumers realize there is a long road ahead. Less than half, or 35 percent, of shoppers think ‘normal’ is more than a year away,” said Colin Stewart, Executive Vice President, Business Intelligence at Acosta. “What’s more, many behaviors developed during the pandemic will be here to stay. Post-Covid-19, 75 percent of consumers plan to stick with at least some of their new habits.”

Grocery Shopping During the Covid-19 Pandemic provides insights on the evolution of consumer behavior and outlook amid the pandemic, including:

Shopping and Eating Behavior Changes Caused by the Pandemic

• Shopper behaviors shifted drastically in 2020:
  • 65 percent of shoppers reported cooking more at home
  • 53 percent of shoppers reported spending less time in stores
  • 50 percent of shoppers reported stocking up on food/cleaning supplies
  • 48 percent of shoppers reported spending more money per shopping trip
  • 40 percent of shoppers reported more online shopping

Post-Pandemic Shopping Outlook

• When asked about their shopping intentions post-Covid-19:
  • 21 percent of shoppers reported they will go back to their pre-pandemic habits
  • 59 percent of shoppers said they will continue with some of their new habits
  • 16 percent of shoppers said they will continue with all or most of their new habits
  • 4 percent of shoppers are not sure what they will do
• Post-pandemic, top priorities for shoppers will be: product availability (60 percent), low prices (52 percent) and customer safety (42 percent).

Acosta’s research was gathered via online surveys using the company’s proprietary shopper community between Dec. 30, 2020 and Jan. 4, 2021. Acosta also released a 10-part Covid-19 shopper insights series in 2020, covering the evolution of consumer behavior and outlook amid the pandemic.