An analytical study of the food retail outlets in the locality of H'Attard

Abstract

In recent years we have seen a substantial increase in the use of supermarkets in Malta, changing the pattern in food retail industry, especially when it comes to grocery shopping. This is the result of socio-economic factors such as social mobility; with an increase in car ownership, one can notice that consumers are travelling further for their food. This research will be based on the locality of Ħ'Attard. The aim is to assess the impact of large retailers on the grocers. The research study will be based on a two-fold method the first being, surveys carried out at the entrances of specific retailers of both types combined with online surveys and secondly, interviews with the shop owners and managers. Such data collected outlined the transformations that have occurred in the grocery shopping patterns with the opening of the supermarkets and assessed the changes in the consumer behaviour type and frequency of shopping trips.