Half of consumers plan to purchase more Irish goods this year, study finds

DESPITE the throngs of people flocking to German discount stores and shopping in the North, nearly half of consumers intend buying more Irish-made goods this year, research shows.

The study also showed that last year, householders increased the number of shopping trips they made each week. A quarter of shoppers went to three or more shops. They spent longer in each shop than they would have in 2008 but spent less in the shops than they would have in 2008.

Delegates at the Efficient Consumer Response Ireland annual conference heard that 36% of shopper expected to buy less convenience food and that over the past year, they had bought “significantly” more fresh food. They also ate out less.