Retail executives worldwide face various operational challenges, but inflation and supply chain problems also affect consumers. That’s why many supermarkets and grocery stores are trying to mitigate costs to retain customers while shifting toward an e-shopping experience.
Of course, the pandemic, followed by inflation, increased the changes during the previous three years. So, to provide a clear picture of the current situation, our grocery shopping statistics cover every aspect of the industry amidst the changing purchasing habits.
Top 10 Grocery Shopping Statistics
Grocery stores in America receive 29-30 million visits daily from Monday to Thursday.
The average person spends nearly two hours weekly shopping for groceries.
In 2021, the average number of items in US supermarkets was 35,829.
69% of consumers struggle to pay their grocery bills.
The food retailing industry in the US employs 4.8 million people.
As of 2022, the US has 63,328 grocery store businesses and supermarkets.
Mass merchants account for 26% of the US grocery market.
By 2024, the US online grocery market could reach 187.7 billion dollars in sales.
54.3% of US consumers purchased groceries online in 2022.
69% of women prepare grocery shopping lists before visiting a store.
The Latest Grocery Shopping Statistics
On average, primary grocery shoppers in US households make 1.6 shopping trips weekly.
Although many American families practice “team shopping” with shared grocery shopping responsibilities, many households have a person in charge of procurement, i.e., the primary grocery shopper.
And even though online retailers attract more and more consumers, the primary shoppers in US households in 2022 remain loyal to their weekly or bi-weekly grocery shopping rhythm.
(Statista)
Grocery stores in America receive 29-30 million visits daily from Monday to Thursday.
The number of average grocery store customers per day varies from one store to another. Still, the overall statistics for the United States show that around 30 million American shoppers walk the aisles hunting for food and other products each day.
Of course, customer count increases during the weekends, with data revealing that between 33 and 41 shoppers visit grocery stores in the US Friday through Sunday.
(Insider)
The average person spends nearly two hours weekly shopping for groceries.
Modern grocery stores and supermarkets offer thousands of products, allowing shoppers to browse the selection endlessly while looking for discounts and promotions. More precisely, the latest grocery store statistics reveal that the average shopper spends almost two hours weekly in stores and supermarkets.
In addition, the average American spends 41 minutes traveling to and from a grocery store on each visit.
(Beat 925)
In 2021, the average number of items in US supermarkets was 35,829.
According to supermarket facts provided by the Food Industry Association, American supermarkets carried around 35 thousand products in 2021.
Likewise, the facts revealed that the average store size was 51,507 square feet, while the latest grocery store sales statistics showed that average weekly sales per supermarket amounted to $638,756.
(The Food Industry Association)
US households' average annual food expenditure in 2021 was 8,289 dollars.
The rising prices increased the average food expenditure for American households, making last year’s annual average around eight thousand US dollars.
So, according to the 2021 data, the average monthly food expenditure was approximately 690 dollars.
(Statista)
69% of consumers struggle to pay their grocery bills.
It’s no secret that inflation directly impacts consumers, and more than two-thirds of shoppers admit that paying for the ever-increasing bills is challenging. Similarly, grocery shopping volume statistics reveal that 83% of consumers have changed their shopping behavior because of the growing prices.
For instance, 36% of shoppers have cut back on snacks, while 35% plan fewer holiday meals. In addition, 53% use rewards and loyalty programs to offset higher costs, while 52% use digital coupons.
(Supermarket News)
57% of affluent shoppers changed their consumer behavior because of the rising prices.
No one’s immune to the volatile economic environment, and many affluent consumers are also changing their purchasing habits in 2022.
For example, 42% are stockpiling products, while 23% use cashback rebates and shopping apps more often.
(Vericast)
Grocery Store Industry Stats & Facts
The food retailing industry in the US employs 4.8 million people.
With nearly five million employees, the food retail sector significantly impacts the US economy. Of course, it influences the local and state economies as well.
Namely, the direct yearly wages for those employees exceed 167 billion dollars, while the total annual taxes related to the food retail industry employees amount to approximately 153 billion.
(The Food Industry Association)
The average annual salary for full-time employees in the grocery store market is $36,557.
According to the latest grocery store industry statistics revealed by DataUSA, the average wage in the grocery stores segment amounts to approximately 36 thousand dollars. The average full-time employee in this sector works 42.6 hours per week.
On the other hand, part-time employees in American grocery stores work 22.6 hours per week and earn an average yearly wage of $10,562.
(DataUSA)
As of 2022, the US has 63,328 grocery store businesses and supermarkets.
The coronavirus pandemic affected the US economy, and a 1.2% year-over-year decline in the number of supermarkets and grocery stores between 2021 and 2022 illustrates these effects.
And although the US grocery market size decreased regarding the number of businesses, the overall industry saw a 1.3% growth in 2022.
(IBISWorld)
Walmart was the leading US grocery retailer in 2021.
Despite inflation and supply chain issues, retail and food service sales in the United States reached a record-breaking 7.44 trillion dollars in 2021. The new record is three times higher than the sales generated in 1992.
The leading food and grocery retailer in 2021 was Walmart, with more than 393 billion dollars in yearly sales. According to grocery stores’ statistics, other top retailers include Kroger Co. and Costco Wholesale Club.
(Statista)
Mass merchants account for 26% of the US grocery market.
More and more consumers seek out one-stop shops and are interested in buying products in one place. That’s why 150,000-square-foot stores are growing in popularity.
Namely, nearly a third of grocery store businesses fall into the mass-merchant category, offering a one-stop experience for shoppers. However, these businesses face a massive challenge in the rise of e-commerce and online shopping.
(McKinsey)
Online Grocery Shopping Statistics
By 2024, the US online grocery market could reach 187.7 billion dollars in sales.
The 2020 pandemic skyrocketed the popularity of e-commerce and grocery deliveries, with the total sales in the US online grocery market reaching 95.8 billion U.S. dollars.
Experts predict a steady rise even after the pandemic, with forecasted sales for 2024 reaching 187.7 billion dollars.
(Statista)
54.3% of US consumers purchased groceries online in 2022.
After the spike triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of online grocery shopping slightly decreased in 2022.
For instance, the statistics on online grocery shopping reveal that 59% of consumers purchased food and other essential items online in 2021. Likewise, 49.5% of consumers in 2021 said they planned to buy groceries online, compared to 46.9% in 2022.
(Supermarket News)
Online grocery sales in the United States could reach 160.91 billion dollars in 2023.
According to the latest estimates, the US has approximately 147.8 million digital grocery buyers. By 2024, this figure could hit 151.5 million, growing at a 2.5% rate.
So, it’s no surprise that this massive customer base could generate record-breaking sales. Namely, online grocery shopping statistics show that online grocery sales in the US could see a 14.8% annual increase between 2022 and 2023.
(Oberlo)
Walmart’s e-commerce sales could reach $45 billion by the end of 2023.
The leading American retailers are taking a no-nonsense approach to online grocery shopping, investing time and effort to provide consumers with a pleasant purchasing experience.
Consequently, retailers’ revenues could increase significantly, with Walmart’s digital sales doubling between 2020 and 2023. However, food service platforms like Instacart could grab a piece of the cake. After all, grocery delivery statistics reveal that this company had the most visited groceries site in May 2022.
(Statista)
25% of millennials do “all” or “most” grocery shopping online.
Before the pandemic, approximately 14% of American millennials opted for e-commerce and grocery deliveries. However, lockdowns and the emergence of various grocery delivery services changed their purchasing habits.
Nowadays, 32% of millennials living in urban areas do most or all of their grocery shopping online, with 20% of those from suburban areas doing the same.
(Morning Consult)
Grocery Shopper Demographics
69% of women prepare grocery shopping lists before visiting a store.
Even though over two-thirds of women use grocery shopping lists compared to 52% of men, surveys reveal that women typically take longer to complete the shopping.
In addition, female shoppers are more likely to collect coupons, with 57% of women using this option compared to 41% of men.
(The Beat 925)
59% of shoppers visit grocery stores at the end of the week.
Although a considerable percentage (36%) of consumers say they don’t have a favorite shopping day, most Americans visit grocery stores and supermarkets near the end of the week.
Grocery store demographics reveal that customer count increases significantly on Fridays and Saturdays, with 20% and 23% of US shoppers visiting the stores.
(DriveResearch)
55.2% of US shoppers buy groceries in mainstream grocery chains.
The typical grocery shopping locations for US consumers in 2022 were mainstream chains like Kroger, Safeway, or Albertsons. Similarly, 54.3% of Americans are loyal to supercenters and mass merchandisers like Target and Walmart.
Finally, we should mention dollar stores like Dollar General because 7% of US shoppers visit these businesses when grocery shopping.
(DriveResearch)
The average time spent grocery shopping in the United States is less than 45 minutes.
According to recent surveys, 72% of consumers purchase groceries in under 45 minutes. At the same time, the average American consumer will spend $155.62 on groceries per trip.
However, 35% of shoppers spend less than $100 per trip, while 27% exceed the 200 dollar mark when buying groceries.
(DriveResearch)
Conclusion
Despite operational challenges and disruptions, retailers are finding ways to deliver groceries to consumers while introducing new purchasing experiences. After all, online grocery shopping is coming, with more and more shoppers opting for home deliveries.
Yet, uncertainty looms because higher food costs are affecting consumers worldwide. Hopefully, the data we provided will help you make sense of the situation and make accurate predictions.
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