Why Trolley Size Matters

Most retailers don’t realise it, but using shopping trolleys that are too small (or not having enough large trolleys available) can significantly limit customer spending, especially during peak periods like Christmas, Easter or major promotions.

Larger trolleys don’t just improve the shopping experience… they directly increase revenue.

What the Data Shows

Small trolleys restrict how much customers can buy, even when they want to spend more.

• 180L trolley → £150 average spend
• 100L trolley → £110 average spend
• Revenue loss: £40 per customer
• With 500 daily shoppers → £20,000 lost per week

For a busy supermarket, that’s over £1 million in missed revenue every year simply because customers run out of space.

Why Trolley Size Directly Impacts Profit

Bigger trolleys change customer behaviour. Increased capacity leads to:

• Higher customer spend and more impulse purchases
• Reduced hesitation and frustration, with a noticeable uplift in customer satisfaction
• Higher overall store profitability
• Better basket conversion during peak seasons
• Customers avoiding multiple short trips caused by small, quickly filled baskets

If customers can carry more, they buy more, it’s that simple.

When Upgrading Trolley Size Makes the Biggest Difference

Larger-capacity trolleys are most impactful for:

• Peak retail seasons like Christmas & Easter
• Promotional events such as Black Friday & January Sales
• Supermarkets & convenience stores, where trolley capacity encourages fuller baskets and higher transaction value
• Warehouses & bulk-buy retail, where customers need more room for larger or high-volume products
• Garden centres, DIY stores & large-format retail
• University open days & campus stores
• Times when your existing trolleys are being repaired or replaced

Any time customer volume increases, trolley size becomes a key part of your revenue strategy.

Are Larger Trolleys Worth the Investment?

Yes – the uplift in spend typically covers the cost many times over.

Upgrading your trolley fleet is one of the lowest-cost, highest-return improvements you can make to a retail environment.

Bigger trolleys = Bigger spends = Bigger profits

Talk to Our Retail Solutions Team

Want to understand the impact larger trolleys could have on your store? Tell us what you need and our team will respond quickly with options and recommendations.