Supermarket sales in Great Britain slowed after face-covering rule

Data shows 2 million fewer supermarket visits shortly after measure was introduced

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Supermarket sales have begun to slow in Great Britain since the easing of lockdown restrictions, as the introduction of compulsory face coverings in stores in England and Scotland initially deterred some shoppers.

Growth in total take-home grocery sales slowed to 14.4% year-on-year in the three months to 9 August, from 17% in the three months to 12 July. Supermarkets felt the impact as more shops and hospitality venues reopened, making consumers less reliant on food retailers, according to the data analysis firm Kantar, which examined shopping trends in England, Scotland and Wales.