Supermarket Shifts Focus Away from Fresh Food Offerings

  • Tesco considering ending butcher and fishmonger counters
  • Consumer interest in fresh food counters dropping
  • Only Tesco among big four supermarkets with fresh food counters
  • 300 deli counters closed earlier this year
  • Fewer than 10% of shoppers visited fresh food counters in Q4 2021
  • Independent retail consultant Richard Hyman’s opinion on the move

Tesco is reportedly considering ending its butcher and fishmonger counters in its stores due to declining consumer interest. The supermarket chain is the only one among Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Aldi that still offers fresh food counters. With 279 stores having closed deli counters earlier this year, the remaining counters may also be at risk. This move comes as consumer habits shift away from fresh food counters, with a survey by retail analytics firm IGD revealing that only 9% of shoppers visited them in Q4 2021. Independent retail consultant Richard Hyman commented on the potential decision: ‘If you are going to do something in retail, you need to do it well – and doing it in a mediocre fashion will just result in the sort of reaction from shoppers that we have seen.’ Tesco has not yet commented on the reports.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about Tesco’s potential decision to end its butcher and fishmonger counters due to decreasing consumer interest. It also includes relevant details such as the number of stores with deli counters and a quote from an independent retail consultant. However, it lacks direct sources or data to support the claim that fewer people are visiting fresh food counters.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about Tesco’s potential decision to end its butcher and fishmonger counters due to changing consumer habits. It includes quotes from an industry expert and references a survey by retail analytics firm IGD. However, it could benefit from more analysis or context on the long-term trends driving this change and potential impacts on the industry.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Tesco’s stock price and other supermarket companies like Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Aldi
Financial Rating Justification: This article discusses Tesco’s potential decision to end its butcher and fishmonger counters, which could impact their sales and customer base. This in turn may affect their financial performance and competitiveness compared to other supermarket companies like Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Aldi, thus influencing the financial markets.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article. The information discusses Tesco potentially ending its butcher and fishmonger counters due to changing consumer habits.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk