The impact of natural disasters and climate change on consumer trends was the focus of research recently completed by IELKA (Consumer Retail Research Institute).

The research was carried out inin the period 25-31 October in a sample of 1,044 consumers.

As it emerged from the conclusions, climate change has emerged as the third most important problem for consumers with a percentage of 21%, behind theinflation at 82% and energy costs at 53%.

In fact, the prioritization of this particular problem has tripled within a year, which shows the effect that recent disasters have had on the psychology of the consumer public.

Specifically, rate of 7% sqof the population declares to have faced a natural disaster in 2023, i.e. about 1 in 13 citizens, while this percentage rises to 52% in the region of Thessaly, where it seems that more than half of the population was confronted with extreme climatic phenomena. At the same time, the assessment is that these extreme natural phenomena will increase in the future as 78% of respondents believe that the situation will worsen in the future.

At the same time, 82% ofth public states that natural disasters generally affect product prices with only 2% to disagree.

Yes, 39% considers the effect to be large. This shows that not only basic products such as fresh food, but products in general are affected by climate change.

Product prices are the main area where problems are found, but not only.

Specifically to the question of whether the recent floods in Thessaly will affect various factors in relation to market supply: 97% believe that the recent floods in Thessaly will affect product prices (73% a lot).

95% think they will affect the costs of food producers (68% think a lot). 80% believe they will affect market supply times (32% very much).

It is noted that until now the fears have not been confirmed neither in relation to prices nor in relation to the supply of the market, as either from the production of the rest of the country or with other tools, both the adequacy and the prices of the products in the summer 2023 levels.

According to the research, the actions undertaken by the supermarket chains in the Thessaly region are positively evaluated, both by the residents of the region and by the entire country.

Specifically, 62% positively assess the provision of discounts in the shops in the area, with this percentage rising to 86% for the residents of Thessaly. 81% positively assess the provision of immediate necessities to those affected (water, food, etc.), this percentage rising to 86% for the residents of Thessaly.

78% positively assess the support of local producers, 74% for the residents of Thessaly.

76% positively evaluate the renovation of the stores in the area and 82% the maintenance of employment in the affected stores that remain closed.