Discount stores set to take customers from supermarkets

Shoppers feeling the strain of the rising cost of living are planning to cut costs by switching their allegiance from their usual supermarkets to discount outlets such as Aldi and Lidl, new research shows.

The figures, from retail analyst IGD, indicate that 29% of consumers expect to do more of their shopping at discount stores over the next 12 months, up from 25% last month.