Grocery Shopping Statistics to Know in 2023
Record-high inflation, supply chain delays, and rising prices affect shoppers worldwide, forcing them to cut spending and reduce visits to supermarkets and grocery stores. Then again, the rise of e-grocery adds an extra dimension to the industry.
So, to get a deeper insight into consumer habits and the current state of the grocery industry, let’s check the latest grocery shopping statistics. The data reveals some worrisome trends, but an optimistic outlook prevails. Here’s why.
Top Ten Grocery Shopping Statistics & Facts
US grocery store sales for 2022 reached $71.17 billion in September.
The American supermarkets and grocery stores industry is valued at $811.5 billion.
Mass merchants comprise 26% of the US grocery market size.
Digital grocery sales account for 11.2% of US grocery sales.
The average annual grocery spending per buyer could grow to $1,524.84 by 2025.
51.5% of the US population used online grocery shopping in 2021.
31% of UK shoppers don’t buy groceries online because of high delivery costs.
25% of millennials do “all” or “most” grocery shopping online.
The average person visits grocery stores three times a week.
55% of consumers prefer shopping at a mainstream grocery chain.
Grocery Store Industry Statistics & Facts
US grocery store sales for 2022 reached $71.17 billion in September.
Despite the economic crisis and growing inflation, the American grocery industry continues to grow. Namely, the overall grocery store sales for the current year exceeded seventy billion dollars before the end of September.
Grocery store sales increased by 0.37% compared to the previous month and 6.76% compared to the same period in 2021. Most importantly, the chart shows a growing trend.
(Ycharts)
The American supermarkets and grocery stores industry is valued at $811.5 billion.
According to the latest data, the US grocery store industry generates a revenue of $811.5 billion, with an estimated growth rate of 4.5% for 2022.
The massive size of the grocery store market ranks it as the third retail industry and the 15th largest in the United States. Over the past five years, the supermarket and grocery store sector has grown faster than the American economy.
(Ibis World)
The US has more than 63 thousand supermarkets and grocery store businesses.
As of the time of writing, the number of grocery store businesses and supermarkets in the US is 63,328. In addition, grocery store statistics for 2022 reveal a 1.3% growth rate in the number of these facilities.
However, the overall number of supermarkets and grocery stores across the US declined by -1,2% compared to 2021.
(Ibis World)
In 2021, the UK grocery store industry was worth approximately 212 billion British pounds.
The United Kingdom has a growing grocery store industry, with a positive growth rate since 2022. By 2027, the market size could reach 241 billion pounds.
The data from the pandemic period in 2020 reveal that the average UK household spends 63.7 pounds on food and non-alcoholic drinks weekly.
(Statista)
Mass merchants comprise 26% of the US grocery market size.
The mass merchants category includes stores with more than 150,000 square feet, and fifth American grocery stores classify as mass merchants.
These facilities offer a different, all-encompassing in-store experience than the traditional neighborhood stores. Primarily, many consumers visit these stores to buy discounted items in bulk.
(McKinsey)
In July 2022, US retail and food service sales amounted to $682.82 billion.
Compared to July 2021, the overall sales in the retail and food service sector increased by 10.3 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In grocery sales alone, July sales amounted to $70.81 billion, jumping by 9.2% year over year.
(Supermarket News)
Online Grocery Shopping Statistics
In 2022, US online grocery sales could reach $147.5 billion.
According to Oberlo’s data, the US has around 143.6 million buyers enjoying the benefits of digital grocery shopping. So, it’s no surprise that online sales could soon hit the 150 million mark.
The most significant income of new digital grocery buyers came in 2020 because of the pandemic, with a 63.9% growth rate compared to 2019.
(Oberlo)
Digital grocery sales account for 11.2% of US grocery sales.
More and more Americans order groceries via desktop and mobile apps or voice assistants. The latest statistics on online grocery shopping reveal that orders via online channels could reach a 20.5% year-over-year growth by the end of 2022.
Nevertheless, digital grocery sales account for only around a tenth of the American grocery sales market share, estimated at around $1.32 trillion.
(Insider Intelligence)
The average annual grocery spending per buyer could grow to $1,524.84 by 2025.
Most experts agree that online grocery sales in the US could double between 2021 and 2025, bringing more than $121 billion into the market.
Consequently, the average spending per buyer will increase. According to online grocery shopping statistics, the average annual spend per digital buyer in 2021 was $856.47, exceeding $1,500 by 2025.
(Insider Intelligence)
51.5% of the US population used online grocery shopping in 2021.
During the turbulent 2020, US digital grocery sales skyrocketed, growing by 63.9% compared to 2019. In 2021, online shopping slightly declined, but consumer behavior surveys reveal that 142.9 million Americans made at least one digital purchase.
Of course, the upcoming years should increase the popularity and accessibility of online grocery shopping, with digital sales reaching $243.67 billion.
(Insider Intelligence)
40% of consumers in the UK admitted they would continue online grocery shopping after the pandemic.
In 2021, UK grocery shopping statistics showed that nearly half of the shoppers would stick with digital grocery shopping at the same level as during the pandemic.
In addition, a third of respondents said they would continue to shop for groceries online but with reduced frequency.
(Statista)
31% of UK shoppers don’t buy groceries online because of high delivery costs.
Even though many stores offer coupons and occasional free delivery, a third of UK consumers don’t shop online for groceries because of high delivery charges. Likewise, 35% say they don’t shop online because they find better promotions and lower prices in-store.
On the other hand, grocery delivery statistics reveal that 71% of shoppers think deliveries should be more sustainable.
(Mintel)
More than half of US grocery executives believe attracting talent to support digital shopping will be challenging.
Bullish grocery executives in the US admit they believe that the online grocery shopping penetration could triple in the next three to five years, reaching 35% by 2025.
Yet, two-thirds of American grocery executives expect losses during the shift to online grocery shopping, primarily because digital growth requires a skilled workforce.
(McKinsey)
Grocery Store Demographics
25% of millennials do “all” or “most” grocery shopping online.
Before the pandemic, only 14% of millennials used online channels for grocery shopping. Then came the coronavirus, forcing millennials to stay inside and embrace online grocery shopping.
Nowadays, 32% of nearly a third of millennials from urban areas order groceries online at least once a month. In addition, 21% of suburban and 21% of rural millennials do the same.
(Morning Consult)
The average person visits grocery stores three times a week.
Most people go grocery shopping a few times per week, and the average time spent grocery shopping adds up to approximately two hours a week.
On top of that, traveling to and from grocery stores and supermarkets requires an additional 41 minutes per week. Thus, online grocery shopping offers a time-saving alternative for people with busy schedules.
(The Beat 925)
70% of shoppers go grocery shopping at random intervals.
Nearly a third of consumers in the US admit visiting grocery stores are relatively fixed intervals, and these shoppers spend more dollars per trip.
Alternatively, more than two-thirds don’t regularly visit supermarkets and grocery stores. Instead, they restock randomly and go grocery shopping more often than “routine” shoppers.
(Science Direct)
52% of men make a grocery shopping list beforehand.
According to male vs. female grocery shopping statistics, more than half of men go prepared and use a shopping list when visiting a grocery store or a supermarket.
On the other hand, 69% of women make a shopping list before going grocery shopping. Of course, most people nowadays use mobile apps to create grocery shopping lists.
(The Beat 925)
83% of baby boomers admit price increases are the most significant challenge they face when grocery shopping.
The rising prices of consumer goods impact shoppers worldwide, and baby boomers are among the most sensitive groups regarding living costs.
Moreover, grocery shoppers’ demographics reveal that even 57% of affluent shoppers of any age find rising prices the most significant challenge when grocery shopping.
(Vericast)
42% of affluent shoppers stockpile products because of the rising prices.
The volatile economy causes changes in purchasing habits across demographic and societal groups, and even affluent shoppers are not immune to inflation and financial crisis.
For instance, 39% of those shoppers have switched to digital grocery shopping, while 23% use cashback rebates or apps more frequently than before.
(Vericast)
On average, 29-30 million US shoppers visit grocery stores and supermarkets daily.
The volume of grocery store customers per day depends on location and various other factors, but American grocers typically experience around 30 million visits daily from Monday to Thursday.
Naturally, the traffic increases during the weekends and the average number of shoppers Friday through Sunday grows to 33-41 million per day.
(Insider)
55% of consumers prefer shopping at a mainstream grocery chain.
The average trip to a grocery store costs $155.62, and most shoppers visit grocery stores and supermarkets eight times a month. Thus, keeping regular clients is essential from the grocery executives’ perspective.
So, although 72% of shoppers spend less than 44 minutes shopping, the statistics show that more than half regularly visit the same chain or supercenter.
(Drive Research)
FAQ
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Conclusion
The future of grocery shopping looks optimistic, but only if grocers and supermarket executives implement new methods and meet the modern user’s demands. The latest grocery shopping statistics show digital shopping is yet to reach its full potential, leaving room for land-based stores and supermarket chains to capitalize on.
After a whirlwind of disruptions and turbulent years, grocers are eager for a break, and the same applies to consumers worldwide.
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