Local shops are wondering whether their new customers will stick around after lockdown is eventually lifted.

A Kent business expert thinks people will return as they realise they are getting value for money, helping their local economy and the environment, but a grocer in Rochester thinks we could hit a recession after the crisis and new customers could head back to supermarkets.

Floortje Hoette, chief executive of Produced in Kent, has seen customer buying habits shift towards more local shops out of necessity as supermarket shelves emptied as social distancing and lockdown regulations were put in place.

She said: "A lot of our members in the retail sector are now providing home deliveries, online orders, veg boxes and takeaways.

"They have seen a massive up-take in these services, so I think this is good proof of people using more local outlets."

She believes the change will persist in the long term, adding: "I think people have rediscovered what is available on their doorstep."

Now people are becoming more aware of low priced, great quality food in their local stores, she thinks they will be more likely to buy from them regularly in the future.

She added: "I do think people will be confronted with the climate change crisis through their experience of this health crisis and the positive effects that not operating as normal has had on our climate.

"Do we all need to drive in our cars to work whilst our houses or apartments are empty?

"This pandemic shows that with less cars on the road the air pollution is a lot less.

"This will also feed into our message to buy local and buy sustainable for the climate."

Andy Austen, 55, owner of the local store Austen's Of Rochester, has seen a huge influx in customers coming to the store in person, requesting home deliveries and click and collect orders.

The demand became too great for the shop to handle, with hundreds of people ordering food and queueing down the street every day.

This caused the shop to change its business practices by stopping click and collect and shortening their opening hours to prepare and clean the shop. He hopes to encourage more able people to come to the store rather than ordering online so he can prioritise existing and vulnerable customers.

He added: "We will accommodate new customers where possible. We are always happy to be busy but this store is not about making money, it's about looking after people and enjoying it."

However, he does not believe anywhere near this level of demand will continue after the lockdown is over.

He added: "I believe our existing customers will come back. But the vast majority of new inquiries will go back to the supermarket as it is more convenient for them.

"With a possible recession coming after this, money will be tight, people will think about what to cut and will cut their food bill by going to supermarkets.

"However, we are in unprecedented times so we don't know what will happen. Nobody knows what will happen."

Kim Fox, a shopkeeper for Mockbeggar Farm Shop, near Cliffe Woods, has also seen an influx of people using the shop.

She said: "There has been an influx of people who can't get to the supermarket coming to us. There have been lots of people who didn't even know we existed."

Mrs Fox noticed many more people have been looking for eggs and flour to make their own bread, particularly after the panic buying began a few weeks ago.

With pubs being closed, she also saw people are buying more of their locally brewed alcohol. Though she knows this will become less frequent when pubs reopen, she still hopes some customers will return after experiencing something new.

She added: "Farm shops are more convenient now because the supermarkets have long queues and our customers are not at work, so they can visit during our shorter opening hours during the week.

"Once people are back at work, they will go back to supermarkets because they are open for longer. Plus we can't compete with the prices of supermarkets, who can buy in bulk."

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