Forecast Reveals Creative Changes

John Karolefski

More shopping options and mobile payments at checkout rank among the top trends for grocery shopping in 2018.  Digital technology will make grocery shopping easier and more enjoyable in the new year.  Millennial’s are the ones reading this article on a smart phone which appears to be glued to the palm of their hand.

For the non-tech types among us, two trends to look for are the launch of supermarket branded meal kits, more wine bars and cafes in stores.  Consumers can expect to focus on convenience as grocery stores make shopping easier and more enjoyable in 2018

Trends To Look For In 2018.

More Shopping Options:  To better serve the customer, more grocers will offer several different way to shop.  These options should satisfy everyone buying groceries.  As an example, shoppers in Moore County, NC can shop in Harris Teeter or Lowes Foods; order on line for curb side pick up or home delivery.

Mobile Payment At Checkout:  The number of supermarkets that enable shoppers to pay for groceries with their smartphones will expand rapidly in 2018.  Aldi and Lowes Foods locally offer that service so look for more grocers to follow.  Millennial’s will drive use of mobile payment at checkout.

More Eating And Drinking In Stores:  Groceries will be adding sampling stations for food, wine and beer to their stores.  Both Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter offer such options.  Shoppers will appreciate a beverage break from roaming the aisles.  Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods have added in-store dining for shoppers to enjoy a light lunch or dinner.

More Meal Kits:  Companies such as Blue Apron and Plated have popularized mail-order meal kits which contain per-measured ingredients, recipes and cooking instructions.  Lowes Foods offers several meal kits in stores locally and are ready for home delivery.  Expect more food retailers to do the same in 2018 as the 5 billion meal kit business continues to grow.

More Access To Product Information:  Shoppers want to know more about the ingredients in the food they buy than is printed on the package.  So, food makers over the last two years have made space on nearly 15,000 packages to place a scannable QR code, which will take shoppers to a special website with detailed information.  A major education campaign will take place in 2018 to make shoppers aware of the codes and prompt them to scan and learn more about the food they are buying.

Veteran analyst John Karolefski has followed the grocery industry for over 25 years in print as well as on radio and television. He has lots of stories to tell.