Technology Driven Food Consumers Are Not Loyal

 

Gen Z and Millennials are digital natives and they can turn on a dime, find fresh food fast when they want to according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Regular readers of this blog know that Gen Z and Millennials are in constant search for food discover.  Well during times of inflation they can and will find new avenues of fresh food distribution for less when money gets tight according to Johnson.

Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI, is concerned and recently stated, “Consumers who grocery shop in-store and online may represent the most dramatic upheaval of the food shopping landscape we once knew,'.

So, in 2015, only 7% of shoppers reported ordering groceries online within the previous 30 days; by 2022, half of online food shoppers said they shop online every two weeks or more, FMI–The Food Industry Association reported in its latest U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends–Navigating a Hybrid World report.

Now let’s take a deeper dive into the hybrid shopper—consumers who grocery shop both in-store and online—FMI reported that the expanding food retail marketplace has prompted new habits for shoppers who have embraced hybrid options and integrated them into their routines.

Sarasin continued, “The recent wave of online shopping adoption and the growing variety of online methods may represent the most dramatic upheaval of the food shopping landscape we once knew,” …“Still, despite shoppers embrace of online grocery shopping, the in-person experience is here to stay. Food is deeply personal, and many shoppers still prefer shopping in person.”

This is important; FMI reported that 62% of online-reliant shoppers believe online shopping saves more time than in-person shopping, while 40% say online is better than in-person at helping them discover new products.

Now when it comes to product quality, nearly half of shoppers (43%) believe they get better quality products when they shop in-store vs. 17% who believe the same about online shopping. Even those who shop online at least some of the time said 70% of their grocery trips are done in-person.

“Online shopping has completely changed the food shopping landscape,” according to FMI.  Now the question is where will a Gen Z consumer or Millennial buy dinner?  Do you think they want to cook or cook from scratch?

Think about Gen Z and Millennials as you read this data. FMI also reported new data on social media’s growing influence on shopping. More than half (59%) participate in one or more food-related activities on social media, while 29% use social medial to gain ideas of what to cook and eat. And 45% of online shoppers say they enjoy grocery shopping as opposed to 27% who don’t shop online. FMI said the data suggests that hybrid shoppers want convenience, value, selection and engagement.

Sarasin, went on, “The expansion of hybrid shopping presents retailers with a variety of exciting opportunities to engage with consumers in new and different ways by improving and streamlining the online shopping experience,”.

Shoppers also indicated to FMI that their pandemic fears are easing but inflationary impacts persist. FMI found that more than half (59%) of shoppers reported spending more on groceries than a year ago and that 85% are concerned about access to food.

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideas look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how our Grocerant Guru® can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit: us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter