Serbian households spent RSD 2 billion (€17 million) more on food, drink, personal care and household cleaning items in the three weeks to 15 March compared to a year earlier, according to a report in local daily Danas.
The findings come from GfK Household Panel data, which was reported by the FoNet news agency.
Soap emerged as one of the most sought after products in the country, followed by sugar and flour, as the country grapples with the outbreak of COVID-19.
The demand for frozen vegetables, canned tuna, eggs, toilet paper, pasta, frozen pastries, and edible oil also increased significantly.
Leading retail chains in Serbia increased their market share over the three week period, witnessing a 20% increase in household consumption, with private label brands growing at a higher pace than branded products.
Shopping Pattern
The survey also revealed that the share of items purchased at promotional prices decreased.
It also found that households with younger members did not resort to hoarding as much as households with older members.
Customers from Belgrade and the northern province of Vojvodina spent somewhat more on products compared to households in eastern and southern Serbia.
The demand for non-food, personal care, hygiene and household cleaning products soared, while the household consumption of beverages declined during the three week period.
Regulation
Last week, the opening hours of supermarkets in Serbia were reduced in a bid to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
One of the measures introduced means that pensioners and elderly citizens over the age of 65 are able to purchase groceries on Sundays for for a set period, in select supermarkets.
All retailers in Serbia are adhering to the regulations introduced by the government, such as the installation of protective barriers at cash registers, regular disinfection of shops, controlling the maximum number of shoppers at one time in stores, and equipping cashiers with masks, gloves and disinfectants.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
