New study reveals predicted consumer spending patterns for 2025 as over 1 in 3 expect to increase their spend on food

A new study released by the UK's top Out of Home media and infrastructure company, Clear Channel UK, shows over one in three people expect to increase their spending on food (36%) in 2025 compared to 2024, despite having money saving as their top New Year’s resolution.

Other product categories consumers are expecting to increase spending on include travel (31%), household items (23%), clothing (19%), entertainment (14%), drinks (10%), toiletries/cosmetics (9%), shoes (8%) and bags (6%) while one in five of us (20%) are determined to not increase their spending on any products/services at all.

The study of 2,000 respondents, conducted via OnePoll, also showed Gen Z (41%) and younger Millennials (27%) expect to increase their spending on clothing more than older age groups, while the latter expect to spend more money on food.

Interestingly, 47% of us Brits purchase products specifically to aid them in achieving their New Year’s resolutions, with 44% admitting to ultimately regretting these purchases.

Below is the list of top 10 most popular New Year’s resolutions for 2025:

1. Save more money - 42%

2. Exercise more - 40%

3. Eating healthier - 37%

4. Weight loss - 28%

5.Travel more - 23%

6. Emotional wellbeing - 22%

7. Trying new things/being more adventurous - 16%

8. Being more sustainable - 13%

9. Cutting down on drinking - 11%

10. Spending less money on eating out - 8%

There are also generational disparities when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. A high number of 18-24-year-olds (60%) and 25-34-year-olds (54%) cited money saving as their key goal for 2025. As the ages climb, saving money becomes less common among resolution-makers, with only 44% of 35-44-year-olds, 40% of 45-54-year-olds, 32% of 55-64-year-olds and 26% of 65 and over seeking to adopt frugal living.

Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to focus on emotional well-being as a New Year’s resolution than older generations. Nearly one in three 25-34-year-olds (29%) and 18-24-year-olds (28%) chose emotional wellbeing as their focus for 2025. People aged 44 and over are 10% less likely to focus on emotional wellbeing.

When asked about openness to new brands, Gen Z shopping habits suggest they are more likely to step out of their comfort zone and experiment with new brands than older generations. One in five (21%) of 18-24-year-olds and nearly a quarter of 25-34-year-olds (24%) claim to want to try new brands. That figure is almost three times higher than those aged 45 and over.

Food (47%), clothing (35%), household items (31%), toiletries/cosmetics (28%) and drinks (24%) were revealed as the top product categories people are looking to try from a different brand.

When it comes to main motivators for trying new products, the most popular responses were: when recommended by a friend (52%), when being exposed to advertising (23%), around specific occasions of the year (22%), the beginning of the year (20%) and when the product goes viral (18%).

Other key findings from the study:

- Men (10%) are more likely to consistently stick to their New Year’s resolutions than women (6%).

- Millennials and younger; those aged 18-24 (27%), 25-34 (31%), and 35-44 (25%) are more inclined to try a new brand after being repeatedly exposed to advertising.

- Top reasons for trying new products are affordability, better product reviews, superior quality, brand reputation and dissatisfaction with a current product.

- Men (19%) are more likely to try new brands than women (10%).

- 1 in 5 (19%) of 18-24-year-olds are planning to increase their spending on toiletries and cosmetics - almost double what older generations are planning to spend on the same category.

Ben Hope, who is Marketing Director at Clear Channel, said: ‘’Our study shows while younger generations are prioritising money saving for 2025, they are also more open to trying new brands after becoming aware through advertising - particularly Gen Z and Millennials. 

"This suggests they are a perfect target for marketers who plan to expand their reach. Of course, retailers can effectively leverage Out of Home advertising to influence these audiences. Our study will help brands to better understand key opportunities this year and give them a better idea of how their customers plan to spend their money in 2025.”

Clear Channel UK is one of the UK’s largest Out of Home media and infrastructure companies, operating more than 33,000 advertising sites nationwide and employing 600+ people in 14 locations.

https://www.clearchannel.co.uk/latest/refresh-your-brand-strategy-through-new-years-resolutions

AB Foods - results slightly better than expected

Associated British Foods, who owns Primark, has announced a pre close trading statement:

Retail sales expected to be around £9.0bn, 15% ahead of sales last year with like-for-like sales growth of 9%

Good growth in Grocery, Ingredients and Sugar

Outlook for this financial year is slightly better than previous expectations of Group adjusted operating profit to be moderately ahead of last year

Charlie Huggins, who is the manager of the ‘Quality Shares Portfolio’ at Wealth Club, said: "A strong performance from AB Food's non-retail divisions has led to a modest increase to profit expectations for the year. Sales remained strong at Primark, which is impressive given the tough economic environment and the recent unhelpful weather conditions, although margins were slightly weaker than expected due to issues involving higher theft.

"Encouragingly, the inflationary headwinds for Primark appear to be abating. The group expects Primark's margins to recover strongly next year driven by lower material costs, a weaker US dollar and lower freight costs, all of which have improved in recent weeks. This should help drive a stronger profit performance next year, even if pressures on the consumer persist.

"The sales performance from Primark this year has been very solid. This is impressive given the recent demise of Wilko's and the travails of other High Street brands. It shows that the High Street isn't dead and shoppers still love a bargain, but you need a brand that resonates strongly with consumers. Primark has that. This should leave it strongly positioned whichever way the economic winds blow."

From Recipe To Retail - Unique New Club Helps Food Business Start Ups Build Brands Without Busting The Budget

Launching in March 2012, the Relish food & drink marketing club has a unique approach to helping producers to take their ideas to the next level.

Having spent many years working in brands, product development and sales throughout the food industry, Relish founders Jo Densley & Claire Hooper decided there must be a way to share that expertise with smaller foodies.

"The hefty price tag involved with hiring a consultant is simply out of reach for most start ups, particularly in these economic times," says Claire.

She went on to say: "We wanted to find a way to make the marketing & business advice needed to get a new food business off the ground - or indeed to take a fledgling brand to the next level - as accessible as possible for smaller business owners."

And so the Relish recipe was created.

Jo explains how the club works: "The Relish club will be dishing up all the tricks of the trade - from how to come up with new recipes that sell, to what makes a brand stand out, to insider info on what really makes retailers want to stock new brands. With short video guides, bite size tasks that can be done in minutes, templates to be tailored to each fledgling food brand and interviews with some amazing foodie folk who are already winning at this, we will be helping our foodie members drive their own businesses forwards, at their pace and to their own budget."

To find out more about Relish, email hello@relish-marketing.co.uk or go to www.relish-marketing.co.uk, where you can download the FREE Relish Recipe to Retail Tips Guide.