Grocery retailers are heading into 2026 with tighter margins, more demanding shoppers and a channel mix that keeps shifting between in-store and online. Retailers who come out ahead will adjust assortments, experiences and fixtures to match how shoppers buy food now. These changes point to four trends that will define the in-store experience in 2026.
1. Value-seeking behavior will reshape baskets
Price pressure is still a defining force. Recent research shows nearly 80% of shoppers have traded down to lower-priced brands or private-label options in at least one category. Another survey found that more than half of Gen Z shoppers choose where to buy groceries based on the retailer’s own brands, while roughly two-thirds of all shoppers say they buy store brands often or always. Grocers that treat private label as a strategic asset, with strong merchandising and clear shelf communication, will be better positioned to keep value-focused shoppers loyal.
2. Hybrid grocery will become the norm
Online ordering isn’t an experiment anymore. Global online grocery sales are projected to exceed one trillion dollars in 2026, with growth running above ten percent year over year, cementing hybrid shopping as the default pattern where customers split baskets between delivery, click and collect and traditional trips. And online grocery shoppers are evolving to be more impulsive than in-store shoppers. Every in-store visit must earn its keep by offering freshness, discovery or speed that digital channels cannot match.
3. Freezer fine dining will go mainstream
Convenience is taking on a new look. Whole Foods Market’s trends council expects restaurant-quality frozen meals and globally inspired entrees to become a bigger draw in 2026 as time-pressed shoppers look for “freezer fine dining” options, while FreshDirect’s 2026 trends point to more adventurous flavor palates from sweet and spicy combinations to chef-driven products moving into retail. Together, these signals suggest more traffic to frozen aisles and a need to spotlight premium items that shoppers may not recognize at a glance. Systems like the ShelfHero On-Shelf Freezer Merchandising Solution can help by keeping high-value frozen items front-faced and organized even as package sizes and brands change.
4. In-store engagement & experiences are paramount
Shoppers want stores that feel alive; they want experiences they can’t have when choosing curbside or delivery. Expect more staff-led product sampling, seasonal displays and cross-category storytelling that tie together fresh, center store and frozen in ways that make meal planning easier. At the same time, continued labor constraints will force retailers to do this with fewer touches on the shelf. With this in mind, innovative, durable pusher tray systems that keep products organized will play a larger role. The less time that limited store staff spends conditioning products, stocking and organizing the more time they can spend assisting customers or running checkout lanes. This can help alleviate two of the top pain points expressed by in-store shoppers: long lines at the checkout (63%) and products that are hard to locate or out of stock (51%)
The year ahead will reward grocers that pair shopper insights with practical in-store investments. Online growth, value seeking, premium convenience and smarter merchandising tools all signal that it is time to rethink how space, fixtures and assortments work together to make each trip to the store worthwhile. See how merchandising solutions from Retail Space Solutions can help make every store visit count.