TWC Research
The ‘what’ and the ‘why’
- TWC Group has a team of very experienced research executives. They have run over 300 research projects for clients.
- TWC Research can be deployed to explain WHY your data is reporting WHAT’S happening: The ‘WHAT’ and the ‘WHY’.
- We have deployed several research methodologies recently – quantitative research, qualitative work, focus groups, vox pops, price audits, shopper and consumer research.
- Our work spans wholesale, retail and foodservice.
We can design and deliver bespoke research projects for you, to confirm your hypotheses about what is driving performance and to identify future trends and opportunities, to drive growth.
What’s happening in 2025?
The launch of a monthly consumer tracking programme, covering independent convenience retail and foodservice. Contact us for more information
Foodservice Aggregator study
TWC is delighted to confirm that we have now completed our first foodservice aggregator/delivery platform shopper study. Our research reveals fascinating insights into shopper interactions with foodservice delivery aggregators.
The study focuses on food and drink purchases for both foodservice and grocery. We are pleased to offer you a taster of what the study covers. Download your copy of the presentation by visiting the page linked in the button below.
Follow the link below to learn more.
Kids shopper research
Did you know that 84% of kids aged 8-18 receive some form of financial income?
With approximately 8 million kids in the UK aged between 8 and 18, understanding their spending habits could unlock further sales opportunities for your business.
Would you like to know….
- How much money each age group earns or receives a week or month, and from what sources?
- How much of that is then spent by children (vs how much is saved for a rainy day)?
- Who benefits the most from kids’ purchasing power – foodservice or retail? (Or is it gaming or telecommunications?)
- What children think of convenience stores and foodservice outlets? Do they use them? If so, for what?
- How children spend money at school? What are their favourite lunchtime meals, snacks and preferences?
TWC can help you find out.
Contact us to learn more.
Footfall Drivers to Independent C-stores
…With evolving consumer habits and new regulations (think disposable vape ban, HFSS, and more), independent convenience stores are facing real challenges in sustaining traditional category sales.
For instance, shifts in vape purchasing towards “Big Puff” products could reduce frequent store visits—impacting sales in cross-purchase categories like snacks, drinks, and alcohol. Understanding what draws shoppers in today—and how to keep them coming back—is crucial.
We’re pleased to invite industry partners to join TWC Group’s upcoming Syndicated Cross-Category Shopper Study. This in-depth research will capture live insights through in-store interviews with shoppers at independent convenience stores across the country.
Interested in learning more or getting involved?
Contact us today.
Examples of recent projects
Avène knew that understanding the Shopper is an integral part to understanding how the company can grow. However, they were also aware that shopper research needs to be used in conjunction with other data sources. Helping to build the What and Why.
Musgrave has acquired a number of UK wholesalers in recent years – including Ritter Courivaud and Town & Country Fine Foods. Both businesses, in partnership with Musgrave, were keen to understand how well their customers were being served and whether there are gaps in the wholesalers’ propositions. TWC conducted a thorough customer experience research project with both businesses in 2024 which has lead to a number of initiatives being introduced to streamline operations as well as improve communication and sales.
Biscuit manufacturer Pladis was looking to increase the price or reduce the pack size on two of its key lines sold through independent convenience. We conducted research to understand which was the preferred option for consumers and to determine the price elasticity of the products, to support this critical business decision.
Premier Foods’ Foodservice team wanted to understand what was keeping business leaders within hospitality and cost sector awake at night, as well as their views on the biggest upcoming trends that will impact the sector. We organised a series of depth interviews with senior leaders and created 10 themes for the future of foodservice to summarise the findings.
TWC undertook a detailed study on behalf of industry trade body, the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, to create an evidence base on the impact of inflation on margins through the supply chain. This project involved pricing audits, interviews with wholesalers, phone interviews with 150 independent/symbol retailers, a consumer study on shrinkflation and desk research on Tesco Clubcard strategy.
Through 2023, we have conducted several studies for Unitas to support their own label development strategy. This comprised retailer research with customers selling Lifestyle own label in their stores, as well as consumer focus groups to generate feedback on a proposed own label rebrand.
Why choose TWC?
80 wholesalers (over £10bn of wholesale sales per annum) have picked TWC Group to be their data partner – so we know what is happening in wholesale.
We run SmartView Convenience, the most reflective market read of independent convenience stores, in the sector (12bn transactions annually). We know exactly WHAT is happening in the sector.
We are the Wholesale/RTM specialists. We only work in RTM, convenience retail and foodservice.
We can run long term tracking programmes or quick ‘one off’ projects.
We can run syndicated research projects – where costs are shared between a number of organisations.
Our approach
At TWC, everything we do is underpinned by our values, so you can expect:
Affordable and fair pricing
Implications and recommendations based on TWC’s expert knowledge of the channel
Transparency over fees with full breakdown of costs
Research findings presented back to your audience, as well as full written report
The types of research we undertake
Quantitative
Qualitative
Tracking
Desk research
Idea generation and strategy
Focus groups
Accompanied shops or exit interviews
Online surveys
Telephone interviews
Vox pops
Who we can speak to
If you are a…
Supplier
Consumers
Shoppers
Independent Retailers
Foodservice Operators
Wholesaler
Your customers or target customers
Consumers
Shoppers
Independent Retailers
Independent Foodservice Customers
Retail estate/symbol group
Shoppers
Wholesalers
Local Suppliers
Consumers
Why conduct market research?
Grow sales by pursuing the most promising opportunities – use market research to test your hypotheses and identify new trends
Make decisions based on data and facts, reducing the risk of making bad decisions and to gain the support of key stakeholders
Recognise your companies’ strengths and weaknesses vs. your competitors in order to improve your proposition and gain competitive advantage
Adapt your offer in response to monitoring industry trends and taking inspiration from what others are doing in order to stay relevant to your existing customers
Use market research to identify potential new customers to expand your reach
Avoid waste by sense-checking changes before you go live and identifying potential pitfalls