How Visitor Insights’ Footfall Data Highlights Key Trends in UK Retail (2018-2024)
Ultimately, foot traffic in the future will depend on each brand’s ability to align with changing consumer needs.
As retail continues to evolve, understanding footfall trends is essential for business success. Visitor Insights has been at the forefront of this analysis, looking at precise data through its self-serve platform Terain. This post dives into how UK footfall trends between 2018 and 2024 reflect shifting consumer habits, the resilience of essential retailers and the pressures faced by mid-market brands.
Essentials Thrive While Mid-Market Retailers Struggle
Occupiers providing essentials or unique offerings are prospering, while traditional mid-market and generic retailers are finding it harder to connect with today’s consumers. Visitor Insights’ data shows that categories like groceries and health have seen an increase in foot traffic, whereas apparel and footwear have suffered steep declines. This aligns with broader trends, as consumers focus spending on essential goods and experiences rather than physical retail for clothing, which continues to shift online.
Footfall Growth in Groceries and Health & Beauty
Visitor Insights’ data from Terain confirms significant changes across four key product categories: groceries, health & beauty, clothing & footwear, and restaurants. Here’s a snapshot of how each category fared:
Groceries
The increase in footfall for grocery stores demonstrates the critical role of essential goods, especially during the cost of living crisis. Consumers have shifted to prioritizing necessities, with supermarkets benefiting from this trend.
Health & Beauty
A rise in health-conscious consumer behaviour has bolstered footfall for health and beauty stores, as shoppers seek more affordable personal care items and wellness products. These minor indulgences are often favoured over larger discretionary purchases.
Clothing & Footwear
Footfall has declined drastically in this category as more consumers transition to online shopping and spend less on physical retail. This shift suggests that UK consumers are increasingly selective with in-store spending, reserving it for essentials rather than discretionary apparel.
Restaurants
While footfall for restaurants has only decreased slightly by 4%, this overall stability hides a deeper divide. Mid-range restaurants saw a 27% drop in visits, whereas takeaways and high-end dining options have grown by 18% and 8%, respectively. Budget-conscious diners are increasingly choosing affordable alternatives, like takeaways, or reserving outings for special occasions.
Changing Dining Habits and the Rise of Cafes
Beyond traditional restaurants, cafes have experienced a 7% increase in foot traffic, appealing to customers with affordability and convenience. The rise in remote work has played a role, as cafes serve as flexible spaces for working, socializing, and dining. In contrast, pubs and bars saw a sharp 19% drop in visits. Economic pressures, along with a shift towards health and wellness, have made nights out less frequent and are encouraging more at-home socializing.
Brand-Level Footfall Trends: Essentials stand out
Analysing footfall at brand level, the data highlights notable differences across sectors. Supermarkets and specialist food brands rank among the top performers, accounting for four of the top ten brands and seeing average footfall growth of 7%. This is in stark contrast to department stores, which faced the largest declines. Traditional department stores struggled with the rise of e-commerce and an inability to compete on price and variety.
Meanwhile, retail chains offering essential products and budget-conscious dining options continue to show resilience. As consumers focus on necessities, supermarkets and grocery-focused variety stores have retained their foot traffic, while fashion brands and jewelry stores have experienced declines. Notably, even within health & beauty, products like self-care items have seen moderate growth, while luxury or non-essential items lag.
Key Takeaways for Future Strategy
Visitor Insights’ data provides a clear message: evolving consumer priorities and financial pressures are reshaping footfall patterns. Retailers must now consider how to adapt to these shifts. Brands offering essential products, affordable dining options, or unique value propositions are better positioned to succeed, while mid-market and non-essential retailers must rethink their approach to remain relevant.
By leveraging Visitor Insights’ data on footfall by centre type, retailers can make strategic decisions about where to focus their resources and how to engage with today’s value-driven consumers.
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