Grocery Shopping Trends To Watch For In 2016

Grocery shoppers in 2016 will see ever more digitizing of their stores and more opportunities to buy online, a trend that will “surge.” Online shopping will be paired with online delivery services that will also offer personal shoppers who visit several stores to fill grocery orders. More stores will add Bluetooth-enabled beacon technology that pushes digital info (ads, coupons, product details, etc.) to smartphone shoppers equipped with special apps. Look for more stores equipped with electronic shelf labels (ESLs) that display prices, ads and even nutritional information. Expect more small-format stores in urban areas – think Aldi and Trader Joe’s – catering to singles and small families. Larger supermarkets, meanwhile, will be offering more product sampling, cooking demos, nutritional tours, and even in-store dining.