Around 48% of Australian consumers admit that their shopping habits have changed since the pandemic, according to a new report.
YouGov’s ‘International FMCG/CPG report 2021: Consumer goods in a crisis’ examines consumers’ attitudes to fast moving/consumer packaged goods across 17 global markets.
Over 1000 Australians were surveyed on YouGov Omnibus, revealing how their habits have changed:
- 34% say they are now more likely to buy things in bulk.
- 32% agree they will be shopping more online.
- 66% say they will make more of an effort to support local businesses
- 50% say they will buy more sustainable products in the future.
Ervin Ha, Head of Data Products for YouGov APAC says the Covid-19 pandemic has created both challenges and opportunities within the FMCG sector.
“It hasn’t had a one-size-fits-all impact on shopping behaviour and there are very real differences between different categories and markets,” he says.
With much of the focus last year being to stay at home and stay clean, over a 36% of surveyed consumers say they have bought more home cleaning products. Of all the consumer goods YouGov polled Australians on, it is fruits and vegetables that most shoppers report spending more on, with 30% saying their consumption has increased.
Shoppers have also stocked up more on frozen foods in the past year, with 28% reporting increased consumption. This is followed by junk food and food cupboard items (both 27%), ready-meals (20%), dairy items (19%) and bakery goods (18%).
23% of Aussies have also been buying more alcohol since the pandemic, and amongst those aged 18 to 34, this jumps up to 35%.
Cosmetic products did not quite see the same spike in consumption, with only 9% reporting an increase in spending. Overall 21% say they are now spending less on cosmetics.
“Whether these changes will be long-lasting or short-term remains to be seen but, as we enter the second year of the crisis, understanding consumer sentiment will be for keeping FMCG players on the front foot,” Mr Ha says.