Over 80% of In-Store U.K. Shoppers Have Had Out of Stock Experiences in 2023

More than eight in ten brick-and-mortar U.K. supermarket shoppers (82%) said they have experienced items being out of stock in the last 12 months, according to a report.

Based on a survey by Retail Insight reported by Supply Management, the number of U.K. supermarket shoppers that said they dealt with items being out of stock was up 11% from 2022. Simultaneously, six in ten internet shoppers reported items were out-of-stock online, a 6% year-on-year increase.

This appears to be an ongoing trend with 71% of responders saying they believe product availability has become a growing problem since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a summary of the survey from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.

Over half of those surveyed (57%) said the increased cost of food production is the biggest reason for items being out of stock in 2023. Another 56% believe inflation is the main factor impacting stock availability. 

This problem is also bringing loyalty into question after 27% of respondents said they would question their commitment to a specific grocer if out-of-stock messages became a regular occurrence. An additional 27% said they would switch to a competing supermarket if they were met with recurring stock issues at their preferred grocery store.

“Regardless of the causes – of which there are many and, rather unjustly, a great number remain outside a retailer’s direct control – poor product availability doesn’t just impact customer experience at the shelf edge,” said Retail Insight CEO, Paul Boyle. “It can cost retailers lost sales and, even more detrimental, long-term loyalty.”

Retail Insight’s findings were based on a survey of 1,000 people from the U.K.