As anyone who has ever walked into a supermarket to buy a gallon of milk and left with a cart full of impulse purchases knows all too well, grocery shopping can be a complicated process. To help brand marketers decode consumers’ path to purchase, Food Network Magazine partnered with research firm Open Mind Strategy to survey nearly 2,000 people (half of which were magazine subscribers) about their grocery shopping experiences, behaviors and attitudes. “It’s difficult to categorize consumers as one type of shopper or eater—they want it how they want it and when they want it,” said Food Network Magazine vp, publisher and CRO Vicki Wellington. “They’re also more attuned than ever to ingredients and packaging: Less is more in regard to ingredients, and clear or transparent packaging suggests wholesomeness and ‘better for you.’” And while the study found that ecommerce is growing, brick-and-mortar retailers need not despair just yet. “The majority of people still want to smell, see and choose their own products, particularly fruits and vegetables,” explained Wellington.
This story first appeared in the April 3, 2017, issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.
