The retail market is polarising, claimed Nick Everitt, programme manager with the IGD.
Speaking during the panel discussion during the Re:fresh Conference, Everitt - author of an IGD report on the c-store sector, out last week - said the success stories in the market are dividing into two camps.
“There’s a polarisation within the sector, with the value-based supermarkets like Tesco, Asda and Morrisons at one end of the spectrum and the premium operators like Waitrose at the other.
“All this makes it difficult for those caught in the middle, unless they can find a way to deliver something different.”
He said the ongoing pressure on price was driving the industry down a commoditised route, and said it was important for the fresh produce sector to innovate and differentiate to avoid the commodity trap.
Everitt also pointed to the convenience market as a vital sector for the industry: “The market is now worth £23.9 billion and it is seeing strong growth.”
