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AI tools used by 36% of grocery shoppers, survey finds

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JOSEPH GABRIEL LAGONSIN

News Editor

Rithum has published research showing that 36% of consumers have used AI tools to help buy groceries. The survey covered 1,046 online shoppers in the US and UK.

The findings suggest AI is moving into routine retail decisions, with shoppers using large language models and other tools before visiting supermarket websites or apps. Among those who used AI for grocery shopping, 66% said they used it to compare prices or assess options before buying.

Another 47% used AI to research product information, while 28% had already used AI tools to complete a grocery purchase. The figures point to a shift in how some consumers discover, assess and select grocery products in a market where convenience and price remain central to buying decisions.

For grocers, the data suggests AI tools are becoming another route through which shoppers find products and compare offers. That could make product data, pricing and promotions more important in systems beyond retailers’ own digital channels.

Sam Griffin, Vice President of Strategy and Engagement at Rithum, said shoppers are using AI in ways that could alter how retailers compete for attention. “Consumers are increasingly using AI as a personal grocery comparison tool, forcing retailers to compete in entirely new discovery environments,” Griffin said.

He said the issue extends beyond simple search into recommendation-led shopping. “When shoppers ask AI where they can find the best deal, the most suitable product, or the fastest delivery option, retailers need to ensure their pricing, promotions and product information are accurate enough to surface in those recommendations,” Griffin said.

Changing habits

The research adds to a wider debate in retail and technology about how AI tools may reshape product discovery. Search engines, retailer apps and brand websites have long been the main digital routes into online shopping, but conversational AI services are beginning to act as an earlier filter for decisions on price, suitability and availability.

That change may be especially notable in grocery, where purchases are frequent, margins are tight and shoppers often decide quickly. If consumers increasingly ask AI tools to identify cheaper alternatives, compare pack sizes or suggest delivery options, supermarkets may face pressure to adapt how they present and update product information.

The data also suggests AI use is not confined to expensive or infrequent purchases. Grocery shopping is among the most routine consumer activities, and AI’s emergence in that process suggests the tools are becoming part of everyday behaviour rather than a niche experiment.

Rithum works with retailers including ASOS, M&S, Aldi and Shein. The survey respondents were evenly spread across age groups: 25% were aged 18 to 27, 26% were 28 to 43, 25% were 44 to 59 and 24% were 60 or older.

Discovery shift

The results underline how discovery in online retail is fragmenting across more channels. Instead of moving directly from a retailer’s homepage or app to a product listing, some shoppers now begin with a question to an AI assistant and receive options compiled from multiple sources.

For retailers, that raises questions about how visible their offers are when AI tools generate responses based on available product details, delivery terms and price points. It may also affect how brands and supermarkets think about digital shelf space, especially if recommendations from AI services influence where shoppers go next.

The survey was conducted among online shoppers in two large consumer markets, the US and UK, giving it a cross-market view of adoption. While the figures do not show how often consumers rely on AI for every grocery purchase, they suggest a significant minority have used the technology at some point in the past six months.

Among that group, price comparison appears to be the leading use case, ahead of product research and completed purchases. That pattern reflects the practical role AI is beginning to play in grocery buying, where shoppers often prioritise value and quick access to relevant information.

The survey found that more than a quarter of respondents who used AI for grocery shopping had gone beyond research and comparison to complete a purchase using the tools.



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Full list of postcodes experiencing Royal Mail delays

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If you have ordered something that is being sent through Royal Mail, it might be arriving a little later than usual.

Royal Mail deliveries are currently facing delays in areas including Bedford, Deal, Huntingdon, and Llangefni.

Here are all of the postcodes across England and Wales that are currently experiencing delays.

What postcodes are experiencing Royal Mail delays?

Royal Mail posts its service updates to keep its customers aware of any issues happening at its local offices.

The delivery company said: “We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week.

“In a small number of local offices, this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factors.

“In those cases, we will rotate deliveries to minimise the delay to individual customers.

“We also provide targeted support to those offices to address their challenges and restore our service to the high standard our customers would normally receive.”

The full list of postcodes affected:

  • Barry DO (CF63)
  • Bedford MK40 DO (MK40-MK45)
  • Blyth DO (NE24)
  • Brierley Hill DO (DY5)
  • Burslem DO (ST6)
  • Calderway DO (WF12-WF14)
  • Carmarthen DO (SA17, SA31, SA32, SA33)
  • Chester DO (CH1-CH4, CH88, CH99)
  • Chorlton DO (M21)
  • Deal DO (CT14)
  • Dudley DO (DY1-DY3)
  • Ebbw Vale DO (NP23)
  • Failsworth SUDO (M35)
  • Gosforth DO (NE3, NE13)
  • Great Glen SPDO (LE8)
  • Heswall DO (CH31, CH60, CH61)
  • Huntingdon DO (PE26-PE29)
  • Ilfracombe DO (EX34)
  • Inverclyde DO (PA14-PA19)
  • Llangefni DO (LL62-LL78)
  • Lutterworth DO (LE9, LE17)
  • Margate DO (CT7-CT9)
  • Milton Keynes Kiln Farm DO (MK8, MK11-MK14, MK19)
  • Mold DO (CH7)
  • Mumbles DO (SA3)
  • New Ferry DO (CH32, CH62, CH63)
  • Newton Le Willows DO (WA3, WA12)
  • Pontefract DO (WF7-WF9, WF11)
  • Rugby DO (CV21-CV23)
  • Rugeley DO (WS15)
  • Shrewsbury DO (SY1-SY5)
  • Sidmouth DO (EX10)
  • Southam DO (CV47)
  • Wallingford DO (OX10, OX49)
  • Wednesbury DO (WS10)
  • West Park DO (PL5)
  • Wolverhampton NE DO (WV11, WV12)
  • Woolton DO (L25-L27)

Royal Mail apologised for any inconvenience caused by the delays and will be regularly updating its customers on the areas that are most impacted.

Despite the delays, Royal Mail has said its road and air network services have operated to schedule over the last 24 hours.

If you have a parcel that needs to be collected from a Customer Service Point, you will be left a “Something for you” card.

Have you had any issues with Royal Mail parcels recently? Let us know in the comments.





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Beefeater and Brewers Fayre loyalty points scheme warning

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Whitbread is closing all 105 Beefeater and 89 Brewers Fayre sites in the coming weeks, with final closure dates set for early September.

The mass closures are part of a major restructuring plan and strategy change.

Customers are now being reminded to redeem accrued points to avoid losing them.

Premier Inn hotel and Beefeater restaurant in Saffron Walden, Essex, England, with cars parked outside and gardens in the foregroundAll 106 Beefeater restaurants will also be closing as part of Whitbread’s restructuring (Image: Getty Images)

Warning to Beefeater and Brewers Fayre customers over loyalty points

A fresh email warning them to use remaining rewards as the sites prepare to close has been sent.

One from Beefeater reads: “We want to say a huge thank you for your custom at our Beefeater restaurants.

“As you may have seen, we have recently announced changes to your business, which is resulting in the closure of our Branded Restaurants.”

The email explains that the Beefeater Reward Club and other loyalty schemes, Bonus Club and Tasty Rewards, will close on Monday, August 31.

Points or receipt information must be entered into the loyalty scheme by Monday, August 24, and points must be converted to vouchers and redeemed by August 31.

All unredeemed points will expire and be wiped from the system at 7am on September 1.

Brewers Fayre has similar rewards with its loyalty scheme ending at the same time.

Why are Beefeater and Brewers Fayre closing?

The closures follow Whitbread’s announcement in April of a full shutdown of its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites.

The company is shifting its strategy to focus on expanding its Premier Inn hotel business.

Dominic Paul, chief executive of Whitbread, said previously: “We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term.

“This has been a rigorous process and we’ve approached all options with an open mind.

“Our new five-year plan builds on our strengths and drives a significant acceleration of our strategy.

“This plan will transform Whitbread into a higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business.

“We’re going to go further and faster to deliver a great experience for our guests and high-quality growth and returns for our shareholders.”

As part of the transition, nearly 3,800 jobs are at risk.

Whitbread has indicated that while some employees may be redeployed within the company, significant redundancies are likely.

The closures are part of a broader plan to convert restaurant sites into additional Premier Inn rooms.

The company also intends to sell around £1.5 billion worth of freehold property to support its expansion.

Currently, Whitbread operates around 86,600 hotel rooms and plans to grow this to 96,000 by the 2031 financial year.


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Brewers Fayre will close its remaining restaurants on September 7.

Beefeater will shut its final sites three days later, on September 10.

Whitbread has said it regrets the impact on staff and is working to support those affected during the transition.

Will you be sad to see your local Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites close? Let us know in the comments.





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UK construction company ceases trading after 11 years

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Torsion Construction Limited, based in Leeds and founded in 2015, specialised in residential and living sector developments and employed 115 people.

The firm had delivered £287 million worth of projects across the UK, including in major cities such as York, Birmingham, Manchester, and Newcastle.

At the time of its collapse, a further £303 million worth of work was still under construction, according to the Torsion Construction website.

Torsion Construction ceases trading after falling into administration

After more than 11 years in business, Torsion Construction has ceased trading, having fallen into administration.

James Clark and Howard Smith of Interpath were appointed joint administrators on July 29.

Like many firms in the construction sector, Torsion had been under liquidity pressures linked to delayed capital events, contract margin pressure, and rising input costs.

A broader downturn in the market compounded the company’s financial difficulties, Interpath explained.



Mr Clark, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator of Torsion Construction, said: “Torsion Construction has faced many of the immense challenges that have confronted leadership teams right across the sector.

“Despite its efforts to find a sustainable solution and protect its clients from those pressures, the business’ liquidity ran out of road.

“With regret, Torsion Construction could not continue in its current form and was left with no other option but to cease trading.

“We have a team providing the appropriate information and support to staff as we work through an orderly wind down of operations.”



The business ceased trading upon entering administration, with the majority of staff made redundant.

A small number of employees have been retained to support the administrators during the winding-down process.

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026

It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.

UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.

Whitbread recently confirmed it will be closing all its UK restaurants in September:

  • Brewers Fayre (89 locations) – September 7
  • Beefeater (106) – September 10
  • Bar + Block – September 3
  • Table Table – September 3
  • Cookhouse + Pub – September 3

TG Jones and the British Heart Foundation will also both be closing around 150 stores across the UK.

Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:



The company responsible for iconic British bikemaker Raleigh, Accell Group, also filed for administration this week, putting the 139-year-old British bikemaker at risk of closing.

Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Meanwhile, brands including Evans and Bodycare have returned to the UK high street this year after previously closing all their stores.

Which business/store closure in 2026 has impacted you the most? Let us know in the comments below.





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