Our first podcast takes a look at the effects that the economic turmoil has had on shopper behaviour. Much of this has been against a backdrop where the discounters have proven themselves a force to be reckoned with and the Big Four have lost their direction. Our panel discussed the dynamics behind the discounters’ success and then consider what the retailers are likely to do in the future.

Grocery shopping is no longer seen as entertaining at any level – it is a time-consuming chore that just has to be done. Big River Solutions consultants, Christine Edwards, Neil Hutton and Rebecca Ross, discuss this phenomenon and where it might lead. Some conclusions that bear further examination include observations that superstores are being outgunned by the discounters – the latter not being just cheap but also quick, easy and convenient – as well as smaller stores for bite-size shopping.