At the 2014 Consumer Goods Forum this afternoon, Justin King, the soon-to-retire CEO of Sainsbury's supermarkets, gave a multifarious talk on fair trade, animal welfare, product labelling, responsible sourcing, and the readiness of shoppers to change allegiances to supermarkets.
He expressed the opinion that in the current climate, more customers are returning to thrift and frugality, and often plan what they will eat a week in advance.
Retailers must bear in mind, he said, that squeezed family budgets mean consumers change where they buy their groceries with an ever-increasing readiness - loyalty cannot be taken for granted.
King went on to emphasise the importance of fair trade, and the meaning the term carries for shoppers.
Sainsbury's bananas represent a fair trade product, and though they are purchased at a greater price than the standard counterparts, they are sold for the same price.
It is economical because the consumer is cognisant of the relevance of quality supply chains, and producers receiving their due.
This is why eCommerce and the Global Food Safety Initiative have been such pressing issues at this year's conference.
© 2014 - European Supermarket Magazine by Peter Donnelly in Paris
