Shoppers were, on average, putting one less item in their basket when they did the weekly shop and buying it later on a top-up visit "to save money by cutting food waste". Which is good news for local shops, including Sainsbury's own convenience stores that did "particularly well in the quarter and that's a trend that might be here to stay," said Mr King. However, there is an increasing suspicion that the Sainsbury's c-stores are simply cannibalising spend from its own supermarkets rather than taking shoppers from other local shops.