With restaurants and bars shuttering doors across the country and communities from coast to coast forced into quarantine, people have been stripping grocery store aisles of every item possible. From meats, dairy, and produce, to bread, snacks, and canned goods—consumers continue to stockpile items in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. But with crowded stores, empty shelves, limited inventory, and a feverish demand for food, people have been forced to go with the most convenient options available: online grocery and mobile-order food delivery, eliminating the need to visit brick-and-mortar stores entirely.

 

 

Even prior to recent events, the use of e-commerce grocery shopping and mobile food delivery has risen drastically over the last few years. In fact, about 50 percent of consumers currently purchase at least some of their groceries online. And in 2019 alone, digital grocery sales reached $23.9 billion; by 2023, analysts predict that number will jump to $59.5 billion—a 149 percent increase in just four years. With ease, convenience, safety, and fulfillment driving consumers’ use of digital food delivery, finally, grocery retailers have taken notice.

 

Digital disruption has long been an issue complicating the traditional foundations of certain industries, and the grocery market is no exception. Trends like these shape consumer preferences, which then go on to dictate consumer behavior. As more and more people use digital grocery delivery, the more they’ll expect these services to be available.

 

In our latest white paper, “Five Consumer Trends Shaping Today’s Grocery Market,” we explore the current state of grocery retail and discuss how today’s top consumer trends (like the use of online grocery delivery) play a huge part in influencing and improving profitability for food retailers and grocers alike. Packed with pivotal consumer datapoints and insights from industry experts, this white paper is sure to be a helpful resource for those looking to improve business growth in an industry ripe with competition.

 

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For more industry insights on grocery retail, check out our report, “Grocery Growth Drivers for 2020,” co-sponsored by Retail TouchPoints.