By Debbie Bowen Heaton, partner at Oliver Wight EAME2021-04-26T09:11:00+01:00 Source: Getty ‘The savviest retailers have spent years creating omnichannel strategies that engage consumers in the channel of their choosing’ Now non-essential retail, hospitality, hairdressers and beauticians have reopened, the high street is experiencing a huge rise in footfall. This increase is set to be even more pronounced than during the lifting of previous restrictions, as the vaccine programme and advent of spring seem to be instilling a more confident and buoyant attitude to physical shopping. The question is whether the easing of restrictions ultimately converts to more or less sales for food retailers – and which companies will be best placed to capitalise. In order to understand that, it is important that retailers analyse the historic data at their fingertips to predict consumer habits and patterns and then use this to drive the innovation that will be needed to stay ahead of their competitors.