Consumers are Forced into New Ways to Navigate the Grocery Store Amid COVID-19

The impacts of COVID-19 are being felt in all aspects of life, including trips to the grocery store. We reached out to 1,617 of our members to get a glimpse into how their grocery shopping behaviors have evolved.

With social distancing regulations on the rise and the health and wellness of individuals top of mind, 74% of those surveyed have confirmed they stay 6+ feet away from other shoppers when in store and 68% have applied hand sanitizer right after leaving the store.  Around a third have opted for self-checkout to minimize interactions with others and/or wiped down their purchases after arriving home.

Not only are safety precautions taken into consideration when shopping, but half of the consumers we surveyed are proactively shifting how they navigate grocery aisles since the onset of COVID-19.

But are consumers seeing the impact of panic-buying and hoarding products each time they try to buy food & essentials?

Slightly over half of those we surveyed have been purchasing more items in bulk than they had been previously, which is likely contributing to lower inventory and fewer choices. Because of this, just over half (52%) are more focused on what their household needs; the brand is less important.

Of those who have adapted by adding new items to their current grocery list, cleaning supplies, disinfecting supplies, canned soups and pasta are most common.

Want to learn more about generational differences in recent shopping behaviors? Check out our webinar on April 23rd at 8am PST! Register here.