Online supermarkets sales slow

PEOPLE grew more confident about shopping in supermarkets in April as lockdown restrictions eased, according to research firm Nielsen.

Till sales rose steadily, while online grocery sales growth slowed.

There has been a massive rise in online grocery shopping since the first coronavirus lockdowns began in March last year.

But while online sales remained high, Nielsen said it was clear shopper habits had “changed once again”.

In March, online grocery sales were up 92% year on year as shoppers continued to scramble for delivery slots, it said.

But that growth slowed to 25% in April as visits to bricks and mortar stores went up by 3%, and till sales grew 4.6%.

It said UK shoppers had spent £8bn in grocery stores in the four weeks to 24 April, compared with £1.3bn online.