Study shows low shopper traffic, shopper frequency

COLUMBUS Shopper traffic and shopper frequency is down across food, drug and mass channels — except supercenters — as consumers alter their shopping behavior in light of the economic conditions, according TNS Retail Forward ShopperScape research.

"Shoppers are rethinking how and where they shop for food and are limiting spending to nondiscretionary purchases of groceries and other household essentials," stated Kelly Tackett, senior consultant at TNS Retail Forward and author of the recently published Retail Forward Intelligence System report, "Shopper Update: Food Drug Mass Shopping Frequency." "Others are trading down to value-oriented formats such as dollar stores, extreme-value grocers and Walmart supercenter." 

While Walmart is reaping the greatest benefits, according to TNS Retail Forward, dollar stores and other small-format value retailers stand to benefit as shoppers across income brackets likely turn to the channel for food and other household essentials. 

TNS Retail Forward is a global management consulting and market research firm specializing in retail intelligence and strategies.