Study: We're ruled by convenience

Chocolate is the biggest seller. Picture: Thinkstock Source: The Daily Telegraph

A TRIP down the road to the corner store for a sweet treat looks set to be a relic of the past according to a new report, which shows we're ruled by convenience.

The BIS Foodservice's Route Trade Market 2012 Report details what we're buying and where, with the results showing we're buying a lot of chocolate and favouring petrol station convenience stores over the local corner store.

Sissell Rosengren, from the BIS, says while corner stores have been in decline over the past decade, the last two years have seen a significant drop, with 1,406 stores shutting up shop between 2010-12.

Ms Rosengren predicts numbers will continue to decline and says competition from larger supermarkets have left many corner stores unable to compete in the market.

"There is over 10 years evidence that the trend is happening, so we're expecting that trend to continue.

"Supermarkets are open very late, and have long opening hours and people are very concerned about the cost of their grocery bill and corner stores can't compete with the same prices.''

The report wasn't all bad news, with service stations with convenience stores emerging big winners, with the number of stores increasing by 10%, due in part to the convenience of two in one shopping for consumers.

John Manoukian, who owns and runs independent service station United Willoughby, agreed, and said beverages and lollies were his biggest sellers.

"It's mainly drinks, sweets and chocolates, that's always been the case.''

He said it was rare for these to be stand-alone purchases, with most customers buying these on impulse when purchasing petrol.

"We get the odd person walking by come in, but the majority of people pick these up when they come in to pay for petrol," he said.

Also on the decline, however, is traditional service station favourite, the iconic meat pie, with the report showing our tastes are running decidedly sweeter.

Chocolate was the biggest seller, and Ms Rosengren attributes the trend towards quick sugar fixes to the current economic climate, saying consumers are more reluctant to buy their lunches, while chocolate remains "cheap and cheerful.''

"What we've seen is that consumers have been bringing their own lunch, instead of buying a meat pie."
 

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