---
title: "Supermarkets Become Social Hubs for Elderly Migrants, RT-Mart Releases Report on 'Elderly Drifters' Shopping Habits"
description: "RT-Mart recently released a report on the shopping habits of 'elderly drifters' (elderly migrants), showing that in first-tier cities, the proportion of elderly customers shopping before 10 a.m. is 15 percentage points higher than the national average; 60% of respondents visit RT-Mart more than three times a week, and nearly 70% chat with familiar staff. In Shanghai, a city with severe aging, elderly migrants account for 33% of the 2,300 elderly customers surveyed."
author: "New Distribution"
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published: "2021-10-21"
language: "en"
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# Supermarkets Become Social Hubs for Elderly Migrants, RT-Mart Releases Report on 'Elderly Drifters' Shopping Habits

> RT-Mart recently released a report on the shopping habits of 'elderly drifters' (elderly migrants), showing that in first-tier cities, the proportion of elderly customers shopping before 10 a.m. is 15 percentage points higher than the national average; 60% of respondents visit RT-Mart more than three times a week, and nearly 70% chat with familiar staff. In Shanghai, a city with severe aging, elderly migrants account for 33% of the 2,300 elderly customers surveyed.

Source: Xinmin Evening News, Longshang.com
Recently, RT-Mart released the "Report on 'Elderly Drifters' Shopping at Supermarkets," which shows that the proportion of elderly customers shopping before 10 a.m. in first-tier cities is 15 percentage points higher than the national average; 60% of respondents said they visit RT-Mart more than three times a week, and nearly 70% said they chat with familiar staff.
Shanghai is a city with severe aging, and elderly migrants account for a considerable proportion. According to the report, among the 2,300 elderly customers randomly and anonymously surveyed, elderly migrants accounted for 33%.
A reporter learned from RT-Mart that this report combines 2,300 anonymous questionnaires distributed at Shanghai stores with consumption big data from nearly 500 stores nationwide.
**Seventy percent of elderly people shopping at supermarkets**
**Chat with staff**
What are "elderly drifters"?
Elderly drifters are elderly people who leave their hometowns to work elsewhere, reunite with their children, or help take care of their grandchildren.
Data previously released by the National Health Commission shows that there are nearly 18 million elderly migrants in China, accounting for 7.2% of the country's 247 million floating population, with 43% coming specifically to care for younger generations.
Seventy percent of elderly people shopping at supermarkets chat with staff.
On the occasion of the Double Ninth Festival, RT-Mart released the "Report on 'Elderly Drifters' Shopping at Supermarkets," which contains two data points that evoke deep feelings. One is that among the 2,300 elderly customers randomly interviewed in supermarkets, elderly migrants accounted for 33%. Their main route is: supermarket entrance, discounted vegetables and meat/egg areas, and checkout. They don't wander around the vast supermarket; they only go to a few fixed places.
Another is that nearly 70% of elderly migrants said they chat with familiar staff at RT-Mart. Even casual remarks like "How much is a jin of scallions today?" "The fruit is really fresh today" or "You look great today" make them very happy.
According to the "China Floating Population Development Report 2018," the proportion of elderly people who come to big cities specifically to care for younger generations is as high as 43%, and the number of elderly migrants continues to grow. RT-Mart's survey also showed that 72% of elderly migrants come to Shanghai to help their children with childcare.
A RT-Mart spokesperson said the report aims to call for more attention to elderly migrants. Chatting with staff reflects their social needs and sense of belonging. "Home, parks, and supermarkets" are basically their main life paths in big cities. To save money for their children, "discount areas, early morning fruit and vegetable areas, and checkout counters" are also their main shopping routes.
This is also the first "Report on 'Elderly Drifters' Shopping at Supermarkets," offering a glimpse into the "three-point-one-line" life of elderly migrants in big cities. The difficulties they face in integrating into unfamiliar environments and their lack of social interaction deserve attention.
A RT-Mart store employee who participated in the survey said that some elderly migrants who often visit RT-Mart basically lead a "three-point-one-line" daily life. Sometimes they come not to buy things but to take the free shuttle bus passing through their residential area and chat with familiar staff as a way to pass the time.
**Why do elderly people love going to supermarkets so much?**
**1. Family shoppers**
Elderly migrants often act as family shoppers, preparing meals for several family members. Whenever they have time, they visit the supermarket's discount area. As young people say, "Following the aunties in the supermarket, you really save a dozen yuan at checkout."
**2. Emotional comfort**
RT-Mart employees who participated in the survey said that some elderly migrants who often visit RT-Mart basically lead a "three-point-one-line" daily life. Sometimes they come not to buy things but to chat with neighbors and familiar staff, which provides emotional comfort.
Elderly migrants should also strive to make themselves happy, actively adjust their mindset to adapt to life in a foreign place, communicate with their children and relatives about difficulties, and express their emotional needs. They should go out to make friends and relieve loneliness by chatting and sharing their worries.
They should learn to participate in recreational activities. Those with higher education can attend senior universities, while those with lower education can do appropriate exercise based on their physical condition, cultivate interests like singing and dancing, and join square dance groups around their residential areas.
Every year on the Double Ninth Festival, elderly people can receive free noodles at RT-Mart. RT-Mart said it will organize more leisure activities for the elderly in its stores, such as calligraphy, painting, and paper-cutting, which have received high demand.
We look forward to more businesses participating, like RT-Mart, to some extent becoming a social venue for elderly migrants. This year's Double Ninth Festival, the barbershop in RT-Mart's Shanghai store street also provided free haircuts for elderly migrants over 60.
**Elderly migrant parents, their love remains unchanged. The Double Ninth Festival has passed, but love is eternal.**
**Are you "watching" me?**


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