Places to purchase : small areas are popular
Mahorais make 55% of their food purchases in supermarkets, according to an INSEE study on 2018 figures. This share is significantly lower than in Reunion (77%) or in France (69 %). It has even declined slightly since 2011, for the benefit of small food outlets of less than 400 m2 (24% of purchases, compared to 5% in Reunion and 6% in France. The markets, itinerant businesses and direct sales from producers are also very present in Mahorese habits (16% of food purchases), but their share has declined slightly since 2011.
Very low-income households buy their supplies mainly from local stores., non-poor households make 70% of their food purchases in supermarkets.
Traditional markets and roadside street vendors account for a very significant share of fresh produce sales (fresh fish, tubers, fruits, vegetables). For their purchases of durable goods (excluding automobiles), Mahorais largely favor specialized stores (74%), in a proportion identical to that of Reunion. On the other hand, these purchases are still rare in predominantly food stores (3%). Finally, the majority of purchases of clothing or shoes are made in markets, from street vendors or consignment stores (62%).
