Convenience the key to a happy Easter

Bestway Wholesale data points to consumer reliance on channel

Nearly three quarters of consumers admit to turning to their local convenience store during the busy Easter weekend, as people rely on picking up last-minute purchases.

Bestway Wholesale’s data shows that more than 72% of consumers benefit from having stores open nearby during the holiday period, with 57% saying they would rely on their local convenience store to purchase liquid refreshments, such as soft drinks and alcohol.

Easter is a key time for the convenience channel with the multiples operating reduced opening hours, so wholesalers should encourage retail customers to stock up to make sure their stores have the availability to handle the extra footfall.

The Bestway survey of 2,000 consumers also found that staple groceries are the most popular products for shoppers, followed by confectionery and soft drinks.

“This new survey reinforces the importance of local convenience stores as the nation’s go-to ‘port-of-call’ for essential, or forgotten, shopping items, especially over Bank Holidays and family occasions where the multiples may be operating on reduced opening times, or where saving time takes priority,” says Paul Adams, Head of Sales & Development for Bestway’s retail brand Best-One.

“We supply a vast array of products within our ranges including traditional Easter favorites such as Easter eggs and hot cross buns and traditional roast dinner essentials such as Yorkshire Puddings, roast potatoes and accompaniments such as mint sauce, horseradish sauce, gravy and of course, chilled and frozen desserts as well as the all-important day-to-day essentials such as tea, coffee, bread and cereals that are store-cupboard staples in any home.

“The advice we give our retailers is to make sure that over the Easter period, you are well stocked up on daily essentials as well as the soft drinks and alcohol categories, as Easter is a traditional family occasion where items may have been forgotten, or cupboards are just running low. This data we have obtained has reinforced that Easter is a peak time for convenience, providing a great opportunity for retailers.”

 

Best-One Bestway Easter Paul Adams retail