People now are not only buying clothes, books, or makeup items online but also the “Groceries” today are bought online. The traditional method of grocery shopping which has been performed from generations, right from our ancestors so far. Wherein we were able to personally examine and assess every single product, we had trust built on our regular vendors and shopkeepers, we also had the provision to bargain, and additionally we were able to interact with people and promote a healthy social life. On the contrary the grocery shopping method which is going on the up is "Online Grocery Shopping". Online grocery shopping is the current vogue in grocery shopping.
Return to normal is still shelved by multitude of shoppers:
COVID-19 has significantly impacted consumer behavior and accelerated trends we were seeing prior to March 2020,” Colin Stewart, executive vice president of business intelligence at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Acosta, said in a statement. “While many believe we’re headed towards normalcy, it is highly likely that certain pandemic-related shopping habits — particularly consumers’ reliance on e-commerce — are here to stay.”
Some figures on the report of data:
Grocery shoppers have taken an explicit online turn since the onset of COVID-19. 45% of consumers report shopping online for groceries more now than before the pandemic, according to Acosta’s “COVID-19 Shopper Insights. Meanwhile, around a third of those polled said they’re shopping less at grocery stores (30%) and at mass retail stores like Walmart and Target (35%) versus pre-pandemic. When buying groceries online, 45% of shoppers said they receive their orders via home delivery, Acosta said. The same percentage use click-and-collect service, but more consumers opt for curbside pickup (28%) than in-store pickup (17%). Just 9% of online grocery purchasers pick up their orders from lockers. However, 20% belong to online subscription programs, which typically offer members free unlimited pickup and/or delivery based on transaction size and frequency, among other benefits.
Reasons for customers being more inclined towards online grocery shopping:
During Covid-19, people ordered online keeping in mind only health concern and to avoid contact with people outside in order to protect themselves from life threatening Covid-19 virus. But post pandemic chapter is still witnessing online shopping of groceries and let’s check out why is still online grocery shopping a vogue after everything is back to normal:
-
- Restricted grandeur spending: While shopping online we have a specific list by virtue of which we limit useless purchase and end up not spending useless money.
- Extremely convenient: You just need good internet connection and a phone through which you can order online and also book a time slot according to your convenience.
- Numerous offers and coupons: Online grocery shopping provides you with infinite offers and coupons and there are always some or the other offers going on, frequently coupons are provided.
- Smartphone penetration: Smartphone penetration has been escalated as mobile provides anytime, anywhere shopping and increasing use of mobile phones has shifted customers towards m-commerce.
In the U.S., online grocery shopping reached nearly $90 billion in sales in 2020, an increase of more than $30 billion. In the United Kingdom, one in every four consumers buys food online, a 61 percent increase from the previous year. Consumers claim they purchase for food online for four primary reasons, according to the same article:
For the convenience (41 percent). They prefer not to go inside stores (40 percent). They just hadn’t thought about it before (20 percent). It helps with weekly meal prep (15 percent). While grocery shopping in general underwent significant changes, particularly during the early stages of the epidemic, Forbes noted that the most significant change was in the online grocery buying category. Therefore, shift in behavior of grocery shoppers is due to all the above reasons. Saying goodbye to unwanted hassles, time convenient, saving money with frequent discounts and offers, freshness of products, etc. are attention drawers for online grocery shopping.
So, if online grocery shopping is providing such a flawless, instinctive and customized shopping experience, it is progressing by gaining trust of customers and taking leap towards being a robust option for all time need of customers and to be at the frontline in coming years.
Author's Detail:
Kalyani Raje /
LinkedIn
With a work experience of over 10+ years in the market research and strategy development. I have worked with diverse industries, including FMCG, IT, Telecom, Automotive, Electronics and many others. I also work closely with other departments such as sales, product development, and marketing to understand customer needs and preferences, and develop strategies to meet those needs.
I am committed to staying ahead in the rapidly evolving field of research and analysis. This involves regularly attending conferences, participating in webinars, and pursuing additional certifications to enhance my skill set. I played a crucial role in conducting market research and competitive analysis. I have a proven track record of distilling complex datasets into clear, concise reports that have guided key business initiatives. Collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams, I contributed to the development of innovative solutions grounded in thorough research and analysis.
