Back to the future in food shopping?
Increasing growth in single-person households has changed a number of consumer markets. It accounts for the increase in single ready meals, smaller pack sizes, resealable packaging, increase in pet ownership and sales of pet and animal products such as pet food and wild bird seed. It has meant an increased demand for individual housing overall, but with each, on average, having less space; hence a growth in the use of convenience stores close to this living accommodation, those under 300 m2 also not being bound by Sunday Trading Laws. And it is more expensive to live as a single, all other things being equal. But one retail area showing growth is right at the opposite end from the major supermarket chains; community owned shops, local farmers markets and traditional butchers and bakers. As singles want to feel part of their local community, going back to community shopping feels right for them too.