As Grocery Bills Climb, More Shoppers Turn to Store Brands

More than half of consumers are purchasing private label products at a higher rate than a year ago as concerns over grocery costs remain high, according to a new survey of shoppers by Save A Lot.

The survey of 600 consumers, conducted in June for the Saint Ann, Missouri-based grocer by Pollfish,  revealed that 79% of respondents said their average grocery costs have increased compared with three months ago. As a result, 55% said they are purchasing more private label products while also cooking at home more and cutting back on treats.

As consumers seek money-saving options, Save A Lot has introduced 55 new private-label products over the past 12 months. New items include Mantia's Pizza Sauce, Kiggins Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola Bars and 12-packs of Boardwalk sodas, along with pet food items from its Oliver & Scout product line.

“Not only do we focus on offering great economic value, we are very intentional on the product quality,” said Sally Fatzinger, Save A Lot’s vice president of Center Store. “Our value and quality equation sets our private-label products apart.”

RELATED: Save A Lot Building Off Strong Private Label Foundation

As consumers look to mitigate the impact of rising costs, 40% of shoppers surveyed said they are very likely to shop at a discount grocery store due to rising food costs.

“Shoppers are clearly prioritizing value, and that’s shaping where they shop, what they buy and how they provide for their families,” said Fatzinger. “At Save A Lot, we’re committed to delivering great taste, quality and value every day. That’s why we continue to grow our private-label offerings to better meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Other Survey Findings

• Price (82%), followed by quality of produce (66%), and proximity to home (54%), were the top three factors for shoppers deciding where to buy groceries. Nearly half of shoppers (49%) list price as extremely important when choosing where to shop for groceries.
• In an effort to save money, 53% of survey respondents said they planned to reduce summer holiday hosting plans. Those hosting cited cutting back on extras like decorations (32%) and cooking low-cost meals (30%) to keep costs manageable.

Save A Lot is the largest independently owned and operated discount grocery store chain in the U.S., with approximately 700 stores in 30 states.