Spar retailers will soon be able to access a new ‘food-to-go at-home’ range from AF Blakemore, among increased own-label promotions as part of a strategy to help them take advantage of lockdown trends.

Speaking at the ACS Summit this month, AF Blakemore food solutions director Nikki Rogers said the firm will be launching a food-to-go at-home range in October, catering to more customers cooking at home during lockdown.

Blakemore MD: acting quickly secured availability

Rogers said: “Customer behaviour can usually take two to three years to change, but now it can take six to 12 weeks. More than ever, there is a real focus on value as shoppers are making fewer trips, but increasing their basket spend. Shopping needs have changed since this time last year.

“We’ve reduced the price of 180 lines and we are seeing these products outperform lines across the rest of the stores.”

Impact of Covid food-to-go sales collapse to last until beyond 2022

Rogers added that Blakemore has launched a ‘buy one own-label, get another for 1p’ deal and a £5 meal deal aimed at evening dinners as the company aims to further increase own-label sales.

“Health and wellness is a longer-term change. We are going to have dedicated promotions on this, and continue to have an eye on health and wellness to ensure our promotional strategy mentions that,” Rogers added.

Find out more on our coronavirus information hub for retailers