The holiday season saw a decrease in food and alcohol purchases by UK consumers, with industry experts attributing the trend to the growing popularity of weight loss injections.
Despite total grocery sales reaching £19.6 billion during the four weeks leading up to December 27, marking a 2.5% increase from the previous year, sales volume experienced a slight decline of 0.2%, as reported by market research firm NielsenIQ.
Experts in retail suggest that this trend is linked to the growing use of GLP-1 injections, which replicate a hormone that triggers a sense of fullness in the body.
The National Health Service (NHS) prescribes weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy, and diabetes treatment Ozempic. Recent data from University College London estimates that approximately 1.6 million adults in the UK have utilized these injections in the past year.
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Jonathan De Mello, an analyst at JDM Retail, emphasized the impact of weight loss injections on the grocery sector, noting a rise in GLP-1 usage and a corresponding decline in grocery volume among users.
Consumer analyst Clive Black from Shore Capital highlighted the decrease in grocery sales volume during the Christmas period as a clear indication of the influence of GLP drugs on eating habits nationwide.
Several major retailers have responded to changing consumer preferences by introducing smaller meal options. For instance, Co-op launched a range of “mini meals” catering to individuals with smaller appetites, while Marks & Spencer introduced a “nutrient dense” product line, and Iceland expanded its frozen meal selection with 38 new offerings.
Greggs’ CEO acknowledged the impact of weight loss injections on the company’s performance, with total sales growth of 7.4% compared to a 2.4% increase in like-for-like sales.
Tesco’s CEO stated the supermarket is closely monitoring consumer trends influenced by the rise in weight loss treatments, while Sainsbury’s CEO mentioned their focus on observing shopper behaviors.
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