A survey of 5,000 consumers in ten European countries from food innovation initiative EIT Food has revealed more evidence of COVID’s long-term impact on shopper behaviour.
While affordability will remain a priority for many, with 32% saying that access to food at low prices will be more important, it should not come at the cost of health and good nutrition, the survey said. On the contrary, almost half of consumers (49%) said being in good health will be more important to them as a result of COVID-19.
The research was carried out by a consortium of leading universities in Europe, led by Aarhus University in Denmark. The ten countries surveyed were Spain, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Poland, Italy, France, Greece, Finland, Romania.
It discovered that lockdown measures may have caused lasting behaviour change in relation to food consumption – marked by substantial shifts in shopping patterns, meal preparation and eating habits.
Food’s significance has grown
While third of respondents (34%) lost part or all of their income and more than half (55%) said they found it difficult to make ends meet every month, European consumers reported buying more in almost every food category, as COVID-19 lockdowns and a rise in homeworking across Europe led to people spending more time at home and eating out less.
The largest behavioural shift was the way we shop, with nearly half of consumers reporting an increase in online shopping (45%); bulk purchases (47%); and carefully planned shopping trips (45%).
European consumers are also spending more time in the kitchen with over a third (36%) reporting that they have enjoyed spending time cooking during lockdown. Sharing this experience with others became more important too, with three in ten (29%) sitting down to eat together as a household more regularly.
Lasting habits post pandemic
According to the survey, the increased significance that food has played in our lives will continue after lockdown measures are lifted. Nearly a third of consumers said it will be more important to have time to cook home-made meals (27%) and to continue eating more varied foods (30%) after the pandemic.
In addition to prioritising their own health, European consumers reported a number of changes that could have a positive impact on the health of the planet. For example, over a third (35%) said that buying locally produced food has become more important to them during the COVID-19 pandemic. And it seems the trend for shopping locally is set to continue, with almost nine in ten (87%) reporting that they were very likely to continue doing so in the future.
Saskia Nuijten, Director of Communication and Public Engagement at EIT Food, said: “The fragility of our food system was brought into stark relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. European consumers changed how they shopped and consumed food almost overnight, and there are no signs of going back to ‘business as usual’ after lockdown measures lift.
“This study shows consumers are hopeful for better access to affordable food that will benefit both the planet and their health. It is one of the opportunities the industry can act on as we reflect on how to build a better food system from farm to fork.
“The solutions will rely on collaborative, cross-sector partnerships, and we look forward to continuing to work with partners to accelerate the transition to a food system that’s fit for the future."
Professor Klaus Grunert, Head of Section of the Department of Management at Aarhus University, added: “Our research shows that COVID-19 has changed the way people think about, purchase, plan and consume their food.
“The silver lining during this pandemic has been the rise of various positive trends, particularly around sustainability and health. The industry has a real opportunity to innovate to meet consumer needs, for instance through new experiences for consumers to enjoy food at home or tailoring their online experience to new ways of shopping.”