Online Purchasing of Food Products the New Norm for U.S. Consumers?

Clint George • February 24, 2021

The appearance of COVID-19 and its subsequent surge across the U.S. resulted in more consumers turning to online purchasing of groceries and food products. A recent Oracle Grocery Retail survey shows that these purchasing habits are not going away anytime soon. The reality is quite the contrary as the survey suggests the new norm in the food industry is customers buying food goods online.

 

Survey Findings


Oracle Retail’s study surveyed 521 U.S. consumers in September regarding their COVID-19 shopping habits as they pertain to food products. The study surveyed another 500 customers in early November regarding their purchasing plans for the holiday season and beyond. Survey results show that:


  • 53% of those polled said they shopped online for groceries and food products during the pandemic
  • 37% said they stocked up more frequently online than in-store
  • 93% of respondents plan to shop online for groceries and food goods post-pandemic


According to Mike Webster, senior vice president and general manager for Oracle Retail, “online grocery ordering is not new, but the pandemic was the tipping point to take it mainstream. Grocery retailers were left grappling with both supply-chain issues and consumer behavior that was anything but normal, causing chaos and shortages.”  Webster continued with a positive forecast for online purchasing in the coming months, “while stores navigated relatively quickly, the data shows that consumers have no plans to return to their old ways.”


Purchasing Data per Age Group


COVID concerns proved to boost online food purchasing across all consumer age groups. The study reports that the following percentages of respondents turned to online purchasing of food goods since the pandemic’s inception:


  • 61% of Generation Z (ages 18 to 24)
  • 60% of Millennials (ages 25 to 39)
  • 72% of Gen X (ages 40 to 54)
  • 30% of Baby Boomers (age 55 and older)


While the Baby Boomers percentage may seem relatively low, it marks a 173% increase in those Boomers that ordered online products since the pandemic versus before it. Further, 83% of respondents in this age bracket reported that they plan to keep ordering food goods online. It’s also noteworthy that respondents with children were more than twice as likely to buy groceries online (82%) when compared to those without kids (36%).


Store-Brand vs. Private Label


Oracle’s study shows that U.S. consumers are currently more aligned to private brands than they are to store-brands. “The surge in private-label purchases has become the unexpected silver lining of COVID-19 for grocers,” commented Webster. “Consumers uninterested in trying something new were forced to branch out due to shortages and now plan to stick with their new finds.”


By the numbers, the study reveals:


  • 86% of shoppers said they explored with store-brand and private label alternatives during the onset of COVID
  • 32% intend to stay with the store brands
  • 34% expect to shop a mix of private and preferred brands
  • 20% plan to go back to preferred brands


eCommerce Experts to Drive Your Sales and ROI


Brand Focus Digital agrees with the survey results as we have seen unprecedented growth amongst our clients selling their products online this year, especially for food brands. We specialize in helping manufacturers sell their products (including food products) more efficiently and more effectively on Amazon and other online retailers - in North America and across the globe. We help manufactures develop successful sales strategies and then we assist in executing those strategies, with the aim of capturing goals and maximizing sales along every step of the way. Contact Brand Focus Digital now for eCommerce expertise that will make all the difference in the results you achieve.

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