Even though consumers always will have to shop for groceries, the channels in which they visit continually change, and supermarkets now are feeling the pressures of these changes. According to a November 2015 report from Chicago-based Mintel titled “Grocery Retailing – US,” the supermarket channel might appear to be performing well, with 37% of consumers reporting this channel as their primary for grocery needs; however, the market research firm also notes that this is an 8% decrease from February 2014, when the report was last published.
“In particular, millennials under index on shopping at supermarkets compared to all respondents,” the report states. “Second, it’s important to note ‘where else’ people are shopping — Wal-Mart remains a top choice due to its low prices, but other channels such as warehouse clubs, drug stores and dollar stores are all gaining ground as consumers journey through the grocery landscape rather than pointedly go to one place repeatedly for all of their needs.