Change in shopping habits
Not so very long ago, the staple tomato sauce to be found in most kitchens wasn’t known as “tomate frito”, it was “tomate Solís”. The Spanish housewife didn’t go out to buy furniture polish, she bought “Pronto”, and her shopping list quite probably said “leche Ideal” rather than “leche evaporada”. That’s all changing, now, and so is the more recent trend towards convenience foods, which the Spanish took to buying when the economy was thriving and the housewife had a full-time job outside the home as well.
SUR recently asked several supermarket managers what changes they had seen in shopping habits, and it is clear that shoppers are watching their euros carefully. Sales of own-brand goods are up 33 per cent on last year, and whole lettuces are flying off the shelves while bags of ready mixed salad are ignored. Luxury and ‘healthy’ fancy yoghurts have had their day and people are going back to buying the cheaper ones, or the more traditional Spanish desserts like caramel custards. About 40 per cent of shoppers now visit more than one shop in search of the best prices, and 60 per cent are showing more interest in special offers than they did last year. Overall, discounted goods (which for the purpose of the statistics includes own-brand products) accounted for 17.6 per cent of spending on food and drink in the first half of 2008, in comparison with 16.1 per cent in the same period last year.
| Change in shopping habits | |
|---|---|
| Un chollo/una ganga | A bargain |
| Un descuento, oportunidades | A discount, bargains department |
| Marca registrada, marca blanca | Registered trademark, own brand |
| Una tarjeta de fidelización | A loyalty card |
| Lleno el carrito de la compra una vez al mes | I fill my shopping trolley once a month |
| Comprando marcas blancas en los supermercados puedes ahorrar 500 (quinientos) euros al año | Buying the supermarkets’ own brand goods can save you 500 euros a year |
| Son más baratos | They are cheaper |
| Más lechuga y menos ensaladas preparadas | More lettuces and fewer prepared salads |
| Compran colonias baratas en vez de perfumes caros | They are buying cheap colognes instead of expensive perfumes |
| Es más asequible | It is more affordable |
| Las familias están comprando menos | Families are buying less |
| Buscan los mejores precios | They look for the best prices |
| Se han desplomado las ventas | Sales have slumped |
| Hay crisis | There’s a crisis on |
Liz Parry's Spanish Phrase Book is available from http://santanabooks.com/node/52
