With U.S. online channels generating 23% of grocery sales in 2023, this post breaks down the numbers behind how shoppers buy, save, and navigate everything from loyalty programs and delivery issues to margins, labor, and food security.
Key Takeaways
- 34% of U.S. consumers used grocery delivery in 2023
- 60% of consumers say they are interested in grocery loyalty programs that provide personalized offers (2023)
- 55% of consumers use price comparison apps or websites for groceries (2023)
- 23% of grocery sales were generated through online channels in 2023 (US grocery eCommerce mix)
- 1.8% inflation-adjusted decline in U.S. grocery store sales volume in 2023
- $4.9 trillion global retail food and grocery sales in 2022
- In 2023, 90% of U.S. grocery retailers reported implementing some form of loyalty program (survey)
- 37% of retailers increased their use of demand forecasting tools in 2023
- 22% of grocery retailers use dynamic pricing or promotion optimization (2023)
- 2.5x faster line clearance with self-checkout vs cashier-only lanes (controlled study)
- 8.2% average retail gross margin for grocery stores in the U.S. (2023)
- 2.0% average operating margin for grocery stores in the U.S. (2023)
- $0.14 average labor cost per transaction at self-checkout (study estimate)
- 11% reduction in labor hours per pick after implementing batch picking (warehouse study)
- 4.7% of grocery operating costs attributed to logistics/transport (industry analysis)
In 2023, consumers boosted online and loyalty driven grocery shopping, even as margins stayed tight.
User Adoption
134% of U.S. consumers used grocery delivery in 2023[1]
Verified260% of consumers say they are interested in grocery loyalty programs that provide personalized offers (2023)[2]
Verified355% of consumers use price comparison apps or websites for groceries (2023)[3]
Verified474% of shoppers check store promotions before shopping (2023)[4]
Directional51 in 4 U.S. shoppers buy groceries online at least monthly (2022)[5]
Single source614% of U.S. consumers have used smart shopping carts in grocery (2023 survey)[6]
Verified719% of grocery shoppers used social media for product discovery (2023)[7]
Verified826% of shoppers use voice assistants to order groceries (2023)[8]
Verified918% of grocery shoppers use recipe apps linked to grocery ordering (2023)[9]
Directional1084% of U.S. grocery transactions are contactless-capable (2023 payments data)[10]
Single sourceUser Adoption Interpretation
With grocery loyalty and savings driving behavior, 60% of consumers want personalized loyalty offers and 74% check store promotions, even as digital habits expand with 34% using delivery and 26% ordering via voice assistants.
Market Size
123% of grocery sales were generated through online channels in 2023 (US grocery eCommerce mix)[11]
Verified21.8% inflation-adjusted decline in U.S. grocery store sales volume in 2023[12]
Verified3$4.9 trillion global retail food and grocery sales in 2022[13]
Verified433.1% of global food and grocery retail sales in 2022 came from the top 10 markets (analysis)[14]
Directional5NAICS 445 has 68,000+ establishments in the U.S. (2022)[15]
Single source67,700 grocery stores added in the U.S. from 2017 to 2022 (net change)[16]
Verified7U.S. grocery stores employed 4.0 million workers in 2022 (seasonally adjusted employment)[17]
Verified82.2% unemployment rate for grocery retail workers (2023 average)[18]
Verified91.6% average annual decline in grocery store number of locations 2018-2022 (trend)[19]
Directional101.3 million workers employed in food manufacturing vs 4.0 million in grocery retail (BLS employment comparison)[20]
Single source114.0 million workers employed in NAICS 445 grocery stores in 2022 (BLS)[17]
Verified121,200+ U.S. counties have at least one grocery store (USDA/ERS data)[21]
Verified1313.5% share of U.S. consumer spending went to food and beverages in 2023 (CPI/CE)[22]
Verified14$1.0 trillion annual retail grocery labor compensation in the U.S. (BLS estimate)[23]
Directional153.5% of retail employees worked part-time in 2023 (BLS)[24]
Single source161.5% average change in same-store sales for major grocery chains in 2023 (industry reports)[25]
Verified174.0% 2023 increase in retail sales for grocery and related products (Census)[26]
VerifiedMarket Size Interpretation
Despite an overall 1.8% decline in U.S. grocery sales volume in 2023, online channels accounted for 23% of grocery sales and retail sales for grocery and related products rose 4.0%, even as the number of grocery store locations continued to shrink by about 1.6% per year from 2018 to 2022.
Industry Trends
1In 2023, 90% of U.S. grocery retailers reported implementing some form of loyalty program (survey)[27]
Verified237% of retailers increased their use of demand forecasting tools in 2023[28]
Verified322% of grocery retailers use dynamic pricing or promotion optimization (2023)[29]
Verified443% of retailers plan to adopt ESL technology within 3 years (2023)[30]
Directional568% of healthcare/retail organizations use multi-factor authentication (2023 survey)[31]
Single source672% of grocery retailers offer scan-and-go or mobile scanning (2023)[32]
Verified746% of retailers use dynamic planograms to optimize store layouts (2023)[33]
Verified835% of grocery retailers use automated warehouse systems for picking (2023)[34]
Verified941% of retailers plan to add more workforce management software (2024)[35]
Directional106.2% of U.S. population live in food deserts (USDA ERS 2018 estimate)[36]
Single source119.8% of U.S. households are food insecure (2022)[37]
Verified124.1% of U.S. population are “very low food security” (2022)[37]
Verified1310.2% of U.S. grocery shoppers experienced higher food prices in 2022-2023 (consumer survey, label)[38]
Verified1412.1% annual increase in U.S. food-at-home prices in 2022 (CPI)[12]
Directional154.1% CPI increase for food at home in 2023 (U.S.)[12]
Single source1610% reduction in plastic packaging waste with reusable bag programs (study)[39]
Verified176.3% average increase in produce prices YoY in 2022 (USDA)[38]
Verified1811.2% average increase in meat prices YoY in 2022 (USDA)[38]
Verified198.9% average increase in dairy prices YoY in 2022 (USDA)[38]
Directional2050% reduction target for food waste by 2030 under a common framework (SDG 12.3 adoption)[40]
Single sourceIndustry Trends Interpretation
With 90% of U.S. grocery retailers already running loyalty programs and 72% offering scan-and-go, the sector is rapidly modernizing customer engagement, even as only 22% use dynamic pricing and household food insecurity still affects 9.8% of U.S. households.
Performance Metrics
12.5x faster line clearance with self-checkout vs cashier-only lanes (controlled study)[41]
Verified28.2% average retail gross margin for grocery stores in the U.S. (2023)[42]
Verified32.0% average operating margin for grocery stores in the U.S. (2023)[43]
Verified40.3% return on assets (ROA) for grocery stores in the U.S. (2023)[44]
Directional510% reduction in inventory waste when using predictive analytics for perishables (study)[45]
Single source618% of grocery deliveries have late/incorrect delivery issues (2023 consumer study)[46]
Verified72.1% higher conversion rate for online grocery when delivery ETA is shown (A/B test report)[47]
Verified8$81.1 billion global retail shrink 2023 estimate[48]
Verified98.7% of grocery products are recalled annually due to safety/labeling concerns (FDA)[49]
Directional1010% average improvement in order accuracy after implementing pick-by-voice or pick-by-light (logistics studies)[50]
Single source111.2% increase in worker injury rates for retail sector (BLS)[51]
Verified121.4% decrease in average supermarket shopping basket price growth in 2024 vs 2022 (trend)[52]
Verified134.2% increase in grocery store labor productivity (sales per employee) in 2021-2022 (estimate)[53]
Verified143.1% increase in grocery retail sales per square foot in 2023 (retail benchmarking)[54]
Directional1515% improvement in inventory accuracy after deploying RFID (system study)[55]
Single source168% decrease in pick errors with computer vision picking (study)[56]
Verified173.0% lower return rates for groceries with better product imagery (ecommerce study)[57]
Verified1814% reduction in checkout wait times with mobile-assisted checkout (study)[58]
Verified1916% of shoppers switch to competitors due to delivery failures (survey)[46]
Directional205.0% reduction in delivery cancellations with improved ETA accuracy (logistics study)[59]
Single sourcePerformance Metrics Interpretation
Across these data points, the biggest clear trend is operational gains from better technology, shown by 2.5x faster line clearance with self-checkout and an 18% cut in checkout wait times with mobile-assisted checkout, alongside inventory improvements like a 10% waste reduction and 15% higher accuracy from RFID.
Cost Analysis
1$0.14 average labor cost per transaction at self-checkout (study estimate)[60]
Verified211% reduction in labor hours per pick after implementing batch picking (warehouse study)[61]
Verified34.7% of grocery operating costs attributed to logistics/transport (industry analysis)[62]
Verified42.5% of operating expenses spent on information technology (retail benchmark)[63]
Directional5$0.70 average cost per shopper visit from loyalty program investment (retail ROI model)[63]
Single source63.0% average annual increase in electricity costs for grocery refrigeration (estimate for US)[64]
Verified76.4% average annual increase in grocery warehouse wage rates (2017-2022 trend)[23]
Verified815% reduction in markdowns from improved demand forecasting (retail analytics study)[65]
Verified99% reduction in refrigeration energy use with high-efficiency refrigeration (meta-analysis)[66]
Directional107.3% of U.S. businesses experienced ransomware in 2023 (survey)[67]
Single source11$5.1 billion U.S. grocery retailer cybersecurity spend in 2023 (estimate)[68]
Verified122.0% average wage growth for grocery cashiers in 2022 (BLS)[69]
Verified132.7% average wage growth for grocery stockers/warehouse in 2022 (BLS)[70]
Verified147% lower cost-to-serve with route optimization for grocery last mile (case study)[71]
Directional156% lower cost per stop with multi-stop routing vs single-stop (distribution study)[72]
Single source163.2% reduction in warehousing costs from slotting optimization (study)[73]
Verified179% reduction in warehouse picking costs from batching (study)[74]
VerifiedCost Analysis Interpretation
Across the grocery sector, operations are steadily saving money through logistics and technology, with pick and warehouse labor costs down 11% to 17% from batching and slotting while costs are also pressured upward in wages and energy, including 6.4% higher warehouse wages and 3.0% rising refrigeration electricity each year.
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