During the Christmas period, UK consumers reduced their purchases of food and alcohol, a trend attributed to the popularity of weight loss injections by industry experts.
Despite reaching a total of £19.6 billion in grocery sales for the four weeks leading up to December 27, marking a 2.5% increase from the previous year, the sales volume saw 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 number of individuals using GLP-1 injections, which simulate a hormone that triggers a sense of fullness in the body.
The NHS prescribes weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy, as well as Ozempic for diabetes treatment. 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, remarked, “The impact of Ozempic is clearly evident in the grocery sector, with a notable increase in GLP-1 usage leading to a year-on-year decrease in grocery volume among users.”
“Categories such as snacks and alcohol, known for their high-calorie content, have been particularly affected. As this behavioral shift gains traction, retailers will need to adjust their product offerings to cater to this preference for ‘less but better’ consumption,” he added.
Consumer analyst Clive Black from Shore Capital highlighted that the decrease in grocery sales volume during the Christmas season could be attributed to the influence of gluc
