Consumers in southern cities have spent more in butchers’ shops during the Covid-19 pandemic compared to their northern counterparts, new data from Paymentsense, a company supplying card machines and e-commerce solutions, has found.
Based on card transaction data from March 2020 to March 2021, customers in Slough, Oxford and Swindon spent an average of £38.85, £31.74 and £31.03 per transaction respectively, compared to those in Leeds, Sunderland and Durham who spent £15.43, £14.49 and £9.02 respectively.
It comes after the Covid-19 pandemic saw the shutdown of hospitality sectors and an increase of trade for local independent businesses.
Jon Knott, head of consumer insights at Paymentsense, said: "With hospitality sectors shut and an opportunity to support small businesses, the past year has been a great chance for independent retailers to offer goods that some places could not.
"Whether it is local grocers, butchers or fishmongers, some Brits are opting to spend more on their food, but in local independent businesses.
"Some people might stick to their local supermarkets for regular food shops, but for special occasions or treats, more people are opting to recreate restaurant quality meals from the comfort of their homes.
"This is usually either with cook-at-home restaurant offerings that provide the food, or with online cook-along tutorials.
"Butchers will have seen the latter work to their advantage and with less money spent eating out and more foodies will be spending more to fine dine without leaving the house."
Mr Knott added there was also a huge growth in butchers taking out card machines for the first time, a 123 per cent increase year on year, with demand for services and a need to take card payments for the first time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.