Sainsbury to push own-brand goods

The UK consumer buys a higher proportion of own label than pretty much anywhere in the world.Sainsbury-sponsored research found that 62 per cent of shoppers said they were more likely to buy supermarket own-brand products than a year ago.

 Other research from Asda, the UK’s
second-biggest supermarket chain found more evidence of low
confidence in the economy. Out of 10,000 Asda shoppers surveyed by
TNS, the market research company, 58 per cent said they had reduced
shopping for clothing and other non-essential items, while almost 50
per cent said they had cut back on eating in restaurants.

Both Carrefour, the French supermarket
group, and Ahold, its Dutch peer, last week said they were focusing
more on own-brand goods, which are typically cheaper for consumers
but carry higher profit margins for retailers.