The holidays bring families and friends together to celebrate over food, drinks and fun. Indeed it’s the most wonderful time of the year! And as more families prepare multi-course feasts, it’s also the most wonderful time of the year for grocers, who are enjoying the holiday-driven increase in sales and revenue.
But soon enough, the holidays will be behind us, and grocers will be navigating 2023 and the new shopping trends and changes that come along with it. Here are 3 shopping trends we expect to see in the grocery space in 2023 and beyond.
Spicy, Ethnic Foods Growing in Popularity
Global flavors—including spicy dishes—are gaining their share of consumers’ plates. While the heat in dishes continues to rise, grocers should examine their more ethnic offers to encourage shoppers to purchase these items from their typical grocery store versus a specific store or market. This includes foods beyond the popular Hispanic or Asian offerings to bring in foods from South America, Africa and beyond.
Consumers Search for Nostalgic Flavors
Making the old new again, many shoppers are searching for snacks that look and taste like childhood. Research found 73% of consumers enjoy things that remind them of the past, such as old-fashioned cereals, pizza snacks and boxed macaroni. As shoppers seek out these old-time favorites, grocers should ensure they are found in-store and online. Consider showcasing these products on end-caps or displays to encourage impulse buying.
In-store Remains Popular & Will Continue to Grow
While some consumers are chronic click-and-collectors, most still prefer to shop for groceries in-store. While curbside and delivery were essential during the pandemic, brick-and-mortar stores are once again dominating the space and will continue to do so in 2023 and beyond.
More than 50% of grocery shoppers prefer to exclusively buy in-store, while another 20.5% say they prefer to shop mostly in-store. Younger Gen-Z shoppers overwhelmingly prefer the in-store experience by nearly 9-to-1 over online shopping. This means it is more important than ever for grocers to create a great, elevated in-store experience to become the store of choice for more and more shoppers.
When elevating the in-store experience, adding new products, or renovating the display of existing offerings, Retail Space Solutions is ready with merchandising systems like the SpaceGrid® II, SimpliStock™ Peg and SpaceGrid® II On Bar™ to help your store showcase products, simplify the stocking process and increase sales. For more information regarding our innovative merchandising solutions, visit www.retailspacesolutions.com or call 1-800-279-5291.