article_snippet.sent: But the latest research by retail consultancy group 'Him!' found that variety discounters selling everything from sweets to stationery for £1 or less are also booming, especially with wealthier shoppers.
article_snippet.sent: Katie Littler, communications director of £!, said: 'There has been a considerable shift in higher income households using variety discounters, just as we have seen them using Aldi and Lidl regularly. '
article_snippet.sent: The report, revealed by The Grocer magazine, said people who most use variety discounters also tend to be young.
article_snippet.sent: 18 to 24 year olds say people who most use variety discounters have visited a variety discounter.
article_snippet.sent: Experts say the variety discounters have successfully taken over the gap left on high streets by Woolworths, which sold a range of general merchandise from pick and mix sweets to hardware and CDs.
article_snippet.sent: The Him! report says most people visiting a variety discounter do so for so-called top up shopping, but grocery items are crucial.
article_snippet.sent: However, report found that average basket spend at variety discounters is just £8.93, the lowest for any grocery retailer and behind £11.81 in a convenience store and £31.30 in a supermarket.
article_snippet.sent: The Grocer commented: 'Posher, younger and with a sweet tooth, loyal shoppers have been successfully pulled in by variety discounters. '