When asked to rank the factors they use in selecting a primary grocery store, 70% of U.S. shoppers identify “low prices” far above any other factor, according to research from Blackhawk Engagement Solutions.
Additional consumer considerations include:
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Products/brands they specifically need (59% of consumers);
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Store location (48%);
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Faster checkout (31%);
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Store size (24%); and
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An organically/locally sourced selection (21%).
These elements all can contribute to consumers’ perception of the store. They are also vital to reeling them in for the long term, since 60% of shoppers consider themselves loyal to a particular grocery store.
Blackhawk Engagement Solutions surveyed more than 1,500 American consumers to find out how they search, compare and purchase groceries, as part of its report titled: How Grocery Shoppers Shop: Changing Trends in Grocery Shopping.
Prior to entering the store, many of these shoppers do their homework in an attempt to save money. As many as 58% of consumers actively seek out deals and promotions before going to the grocery, while 68% always use deals, promotions and coupons.
Shoppers make use of these offers: the largest segment, 40%, of consumers save from $11 to $20 on their grocery purchases in an average week. When it comes to the rest of the pack:
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27% save from $21 to $50;
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24% save less than $10;
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6% save from $51 to $99; and
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3% save more than $100.
Grocery Mobile App Usage Still Lags
Although consumers in general are continuing to demand more out of the retail mobile experience, Blackhawk Engagement revealed that grocery apps still have a long way to go when it comes to usage and adoption rates. While 71% of consumers say they use Amazon’s app, only 28% use grocery store apps, with 26% and 25% using Walmart’s and Target’s apps, respectively. Third-party savings apps from non-retailers continue to be even less popular than their retailer counterparts, with usage in the low single digits for the grocery channel.
