Wes Hosking
The Advertiser
April 16, 2012
THE sole weekly grocery shop is slowly dying with just two out of five shoppers now carrying on the tradition.
Analysis for The Advertiser shows customers are racking up more frequent supermarket trips – some daily.
More time-strapped Aussies planning meals on the fly and longer trading hours are fuelling the trend.
Online grocery shopping has also grown tenfold during the period, although it still snares only a fraction of overall grocery sales.
Woolworths spokesman Benedict Brook said the changing nature reflected trends in the UK and US.
In response, the chain is giving customers the option to collect groceries bought online at four Adelaide stores – Marion, Hallett Cove, Tea Tree Plaza and Springbank Plaza at Burton.
Other stores are expected to follow.
Coles runs a similar initiative at 42 stores nationally, including stores at Port Adelaide and Greenacres in Adelaide’s north-east.
“The one weekly shop is becoming almost extinct for many families,” Mr Brook said.
Coles spokesman Jon Church said many customers, including large families, still did a big weekly shop, topping up essentials in between.
New mum Karla Garrick used to do a big monthly shop online but now her baby is older, she has time to buy most items in store.
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