A new survey has revealed that more than a third of UK shoppers have abandoned their shopping trips due to frustrations such as long queues, crowded aisles, and hard-to-find products. The poll of 2,000 adults found that 34% have walked out of a supermarket mid-shop, with the figure rising to 53% among Gen Z respondents.
Common complaints include people blocking aisles, out-of-stock items, and wobbly trolley wheels. Unclear pricing, poor signage, and hard-to-read labels also ranked highly, highlighting challenges for those with visual impairments. Despite these issues, 56% of shoppers have never considered what shopping might be like for someone with sight loss, increasing to 65% among Gen X.
The research, commissioned by Robinsons Fruit Shoot, found that only 14% of people believe supermarkets do enough to support customers with visual impairments. However, 40% said they would be more likely to buy from a brand that actively supports accessibility. The brand has partnered with Katie Piper to launch NaviLens technology on its packaging, which uses high-contrast codes to provide audio information and navigation support.
Clare Brosnan, a spokesperson for Robinsons Fruit Shoot, said: “Our research shows that everyone shops differently, and that everyday habits can sometimes make shopping more challenging for others, particularly people with visual impairments. We believe everyone should be able to shop with confidence and independence.”
The study also found that 88% of shoppers admitted to committing 'supermarket sins' such as leaving items in the wrong place, blocking aisles, or abandoning trolleys. Despite this, 79% said they would offer help if they saw someone struggling in-store.
