- 22 million people, representing 40.6% of UK consumers,
have used or plan to use the Eat Out to Help Out scheme*
- 76.6% of consumers have used or plan to use the scheme
during the daytime when shops will be open, boosting footfall
- Despite this, UK offline non-food spend will plummet
25.2% this year, according to GlobalData forecasts
LONDON, Aug. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A total of 22
million people, representing 40.6% of UK consumers, have used or
plan to use the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according
to a survey by leading data and analytics company GlobalData.
Driven by under 35s*, the increased number of people venturing out
because of the scheme is set to benefit desperate retailers, even
though consumer concern around COVID-19 remains high. However,
despite this much needed boost, UK offline non-food spend is set to
plummet 25.2% versus last year.
![Consumers that have used or plan to use the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme (PRNewsfoto/GlobalData) Consumers that have used or plan to use the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme (PRNewsfoto/GlobalData)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1231841/GlobalData_Eat_Out_to_Help_Out_Infographic.jpg)
Retailers with stores in neighbourhood locations and on high
streets will see the biggest impact from the Eat Out to Help Out
scheme, with 60.6% and 45.2% of scheme users, respectively,
planning to visit cafes or restaurants in these spots. Over three
quarters of UK consumers (78.6%) remain concerned about COVID-19
and, as a result, are reluctant to travel unnecessarily meaning
that retail locations that are more difficult to reach by foot or
in a short car journey such as out-of-town shopping centres, will
see less impact on footfall and spend.
Sofie Willmott, Retail Analyst
at GlobalData, comments: "Many British consumers are keen
to utilize the Eat Out to Help Out scheme to regain a sense of
normality, while obtaining value for money and simultaneously
helping businesses to get back on their feet. Retailers located in
easily accessible neighbourhood areas, close to restaurants, will
see the most significant boost with 76.6% of consumers planning to
use the scheme during the daytime when shops will be open."
Although the scheme will bring consumers back out to public
places, it alone will not be enough to stem the flow of retail
spend shifting online. GlobalData forecasts that UK offline
non-food spend will plummet 25.2% in 2020, heavily impacted by
stores being shuttered for three months alongside the additional,
potentially off-putting safety measures required when visiting
shops. Spend via the online channel is set to rise by 13.4%.
Willmott continues: "Evident from announcements by key players
Next and ASOS, the pandemic has accelerated changes that were
already happening in the retail market with shoppers veering
towards digital shopping and away from physical stores. Retailers
including M&S and John Lewis
& Partners have responded quickly with plans to shutter stores
permanently and make redundancies, as the major shift towards
online caused by COVID-19 will not be reversed."
*Data taken from GlobalData's survey of 2,000 nationally
representative UK consumers, aged 16+ conducted in early August
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Press Office for comment, analysts available for interview: +44
(0)207-936-6400, Email: pr@globaldata.com