Online grocery shopping is growing, and based on current statistics, the industry is going through a sharp growth curve - and one that may open up new opportunities for small businesses. Based on recent surveys from Statistica, an online data platform, grocery shopping was projected to grow from $14 billion in annual sales in 2017 to $29 billion by 2021.
And looking at the current growth pattern, these figures may actually be moderate.
Shopping giants such as Amazon and Walmart have had the most growth, although one could argue that local businesses are also benefiting from the ongoing trend.
Bu even though online purchases are on the rise, consumer usage is rather low. The vast majority of shoppers in the U.S. have not used curbside grocery pick up in a while, but this may change at some point in the near future.
The rise of online grocery shopping had been somewhat slow, as consumers appeared to favor a physical store when buying fresh produce - but the convenience of home delivery coupled with stiff competition means that companies have a strong incentive to make sure that they deliver exactly what you the consumer wants.
So today's shoppers have a significant advantage: there's no need to take trips to the supermarket and wonder through long isles looking for foodstuff. With the current digital ordering apps, consumers can get all their grocery shopping done in no-time, and still manage to keep track of their spending.
When you think about it, the convenience this brings is massive; whether you're ordering delivery or pick up.Knowing what you stand to benefit from in terms of convenience, efficiency, and of course, time saving; which is in everybody's mind today.
There are many retail channels selling groceries, and most consumers likely buy from multiple specialty stores. You can also find warehouse stores that offer groceries and baked goods in bulk, which is why some consumers continue to shop the traditional way. Also the biggest selling point for these stores is usually the price; but this is gradually changing as shopping giants position themselves as a more attractive option.
Local produce markets and butchers are great for buying perishables like fruits, meats, and greens; and the older population are pretty fussy about their food and probably won't trust a stranger to pick out the best items.
But the gradual shift toward online grocery shopping has been fueled by convenience and a broader selection of food products. Huge stores like Walmart offer the widest selection of fruits, vegetables, seafood, grains, beverages; and just about anything else you want.
The best part is the low prices, which make it a better option - even for seniors, who might find the trip to the supermarket a bit cumbersome.
It's not only foodstuff purchases that are growing. Stores like Amazon have seen an increase in parcel delivery in areas such as beauty, pet food, and other items that in the past, people have preferred to purchase at local stores.
At the moment, younger consumers bare driving this growth in digital grocery shopping, but over time, older adults are going to pick up the habit, if at least for the time it saves. The social pressure that will come from seeing other people but groceries online will cause a huge number of people to try it out; and this is what many online retailers want.
As they see it, it only takes one purchase to lock in a new customer, and most of these online stores have invested a great deal of money into streamlining the buying process, and generally making sure consumers have an easy time getting what they want.
In the meantime, traditional specialty stores will continue to struggle to attract new customers - and they can forget the younger generation because even now, their average shopper is in their late forties. And it's this same consumer that larger stores are targeting, having already locked in younger buyers.
Digital sales are expected to start offering loyalty rewards, not to mention a broader range of delivery. All these factors will make it that much harder for brick-and-mortar stores to compete in the long term; and for the most part, this is a positive evolution (even though traditional store owners may run out ofbusiness). But at least the wider range if features, the low prices, and convenience will benefit the average consumer.
So if you're holding back on buying groceries from an online store, you could actually be missing out. As long as you buy from a decent, well-established vendor such as Mercato.com, you will get high quality food products delivered right to your doorstep, and all at reasonable prices.
