Two of the rising trends in the food shopping industry are at opposing sides of the spectrum – “Grocery Shopping Online” and “Supermarkets as a Social Spot”. Online shopping is great for people who are busy, anti-social, immunocompromised, hate to shop, or even someone who has mobility issues. It also can provide access to a wider variety of products. An example is my own sister (after living in Hawaii for over 10 years), who moved back to rural Ohio, where there isn’t even a grocery store in her community. After searching stores in a several county area for the oyster sauce used in three of her children’s favorite dishes – we ordered it online. It was shipped direct and we are excited to all reap the rewards of those tasty dishes.
Shopping online for groceries, while it currently accounts for only 1 to 3% of the grocery shopping economy, is growing quickly. Originally online food shopping was for non-perishables, but in more and more areas fresh is also available (not mine though). Another perk of online grocery shopping is the wide variety of specialty products available – perfect for those who follow special diets or who are looking for organic, vegan, sugar or gluten-free.
As we move to the trend of “Supermarkets as a Social Spot” many of us know that this has always been true in small town America – you run into your neighbor or your boss’s wife every time you go to the store. A twist now seen is coffee shops and even prepared foods sections with tables to eat in, rather than take it home or to the office. Over the years many stores have offered salad bars, but today you will find soups, bakery items, sushi, and a large variety of side dishes. The thing I personally enjoy about the supermarkets with all of the prepared foods is the opportunity to try something new, without buying a whole box. If I like it, I can find a recipe to prepare it at home – if I don’t, I’m only out a little of my lunch. It is a bit like a family dinner where you can try a taste of 6 different dishes.
When we decide if we are going to use either of these shopping options – we should also to weigh out the impact they may eventually have on our local economy. If we can purchase foods locally, either directly from a grower or at a farmers market, we know who grew the food and often how it was grown, and we know the money earned will be spent in our community. While I may love the option of purchasing a few specialty items from an online grocery store, it is more important to me to keep groceries and fresh markets in my community. Lots to ponder in grocery and food trends.
