The UK Valentine's Day 2024 report forms part of GlobalData's Retail Occasions series, and offers a comprehensive insight into the consumer dynamics and spending habits of UK consumers for Valentine's Day. The report analyses the major players, the main trends, and consumer attitudes.
The proportion of UK consumers shopping for Valentine’s Day has declined this year, down on 2023. This has largely been driven by a muted interest in spending on retail, with the proportion of consumers spending on retail goods falling to just over 40%. This may be due to Valentine’s Day diminishing in significance, with over two-thirds of consumers agreeing that this occasion is important, up on 2023.
Scope
Shopper penetration, retail penetration and leisure penetration all decreased against 2023. The proportion of Valentine's Day spending on retail decreased in 2024, as consumers focused on spending time with loved ones. Quality was the most important factor in retailer selection for food & drink in 2024, with Marks & Spencer being the most popular choice with consumers switching from their usual retailer. More consumers purchased from stores on high streets, town centres or in-town shopping centres this year, while the proportion of consumers purchasing online fell.
Reasons to Buy
Identify the key retailers used by consumers to purchase Valentine's Day products across various categories, and what drives consumers to shop with these retailers Understand the most popular Valentine's Day categories shopped for by consumers in 2024 Understand which channels used by consumers are the most popular when shopping for Valentine's Day products
KEY FINDINGS
The key findings
Valentine’s Day penetration declines as consumers prioritise quality time with their significant other
Marks & Spencer remains a popular choice for Valentine’s Day as consumers seek high-quality food & drink
Consumers prioritise meaningful gestures over lavish spending as big-ticket Valentine’s Day gifts lose popularity
Trend insight - stores
Trend insight - online
CONSUMER ATTITUDES
Participation dynamics
Buying dynamics
Financial wellbeing
Valentine's Day spending
Financing spending
Valentine's Day spending
Who shoppers bought for
Valentine's Day activities
Meal choices
Takeaway cuisines
Dining in choices
Valentine's Day statements
Retailer selection
Retailer ratings - grocers
Retailer ratings - non-food retailers
Retailer drivers by category
FOOD & DRINK
Buying dynamics
Retailer used
Retailer selection
Channel usage
Store type
Device usage
Fulfilment
Average spend
Buying dynamics
GIFTS
Buying dynamics
Retailer used
Retailer selection
Channel usage
Store type
Device usage
Fulfilment
Average spend
Buying dynamics
CARDS & GIFT WRAP
Buying dynamics
Retailer used
Retailer selection
Channel usage
Store type
Device usage
Fulfilment
Buying dynamics
Digital cards
METHODOLOGY
Technical details: consumer survey work
List of Tables
Retailer ratings across key measures – grocers, 2024
Retailer ratings across key measures – non-food retailers, 2024
Percentage point change - top 10 retailers shopped at for Valentine's Day food & drink, 2023 to 2024
Percentage point chang
List of Figures
Consumer responses to the statement ‘I feel a lot of pressure to buy the right thing for Valentine’s Day’, by gender and age, 2024
Valentine’s Day participation penetration, 2022, 2023 & 2024
Valentine’s Day shopper penetration, 2022, 2023 & 2024
Valentine’s Day shopper profile, 2024
Valentine’s Day retail penetration, 2022, 2023 & 2024
Valentine’s Day leisure penetration, 2022, 2023 & 2024
Financial wellbeing compared to last year, 2023 & 2024
Valentine's Day spending compared to last year, 2023 & 2024
How consumers financed Valentine's Day spending compared to last year, 2023 & 2024
How consumers split Valentine's Day spending between retail & leisure, 2024
Who consumers spent money on for Valentine's Day, 2023 & 2024
Valentine's Day activities undertaken, 2024
Valentine’s Day meal choices, 2024
Valentine’s Day takeaway cuisines, 2023 & 2024
Valentine’s Day dining in choices, 2023 & 2024
Agreement and disagreement with statements about Valentine’s Day 2024, and change on 2023
Which retailer did the best job of promoting or communicating deals for Valentine’s Day 2024, and change on 2023
What’s driving retailer selection - summary, 2024
Food & drink penetration, 2022, 2023 & 2024
Retailers shopped at for food & drink, 2023 & 2024
Retailers most shopped at for food & drink, 2023 & 2024
What’s driving food & drink retailer selection 2024, and change on 2023
Consumers switching from their usual main food & drink retailer, 2022, 2023 & 2024
Retailers consumers switched to, 2023 & 2024
Consumers using each channel for food & drink, 2024
Consumers using each physical store type for food & drink, 2024
Consumers using each device for food & drink purchases, 2024
Consumers using each fulfilment option for food & drink, 2023 & 2024
Valentine’s Day food & drink average spend 2024, and change on 2023