The future of grocery shopping is increasingly digital. Online grocery sales nearly tripled in 2020 due to pandemic-fueled changes and expectations for contactless transactions. Sales were also strong in 2021 and 2022 as many consumers continued pandemic-era habits and desired convenient ordering. Double-digit advances in the online grocery market will continue, with sales expected to grow at an average annual rate of 12.0% through 2027, according to Packaged Facts’ new report “The Future of Grocery: Online Grocery, Meal Kits, & Direct-to-Consumer Food.”

Packaged Facts’ March 2023 National Online Consumer Survey indicates that 52% of adult consumers had used a grocery delivery option in the preceding year, while 27% utilized grocery pickup. 21% of consumers had used meal kit delivery services in the last year, while 17% had used prepared meal delivery services.

Consumers are looking for convenience in how they get and prepare their foods, and online grocery shopping options facilitate:

While the pandemic is receding as a primary driver of habits (as of 2023) and consumers are resuming pre-pandemic activities, online grocery ordering is sticking around. Remote work, both full- and part-time, will continue for the sizable segment of the population that started or expanded the practice during the pandemic. Consumers who used to make purchases during their daily commutes have established new habits – like online ordering – since leaving the home to shop has become less convenient.

The Packaged Facts report evaluates the dynamics of the current landscape of the online food and beverage market. Consumer demographics, perceptions, motivations, and behavior are examined as pertaining to dietary choices and use of food delivery and pickup services. Attitudes on food, diet, health, and product packaging are studied. Effects of recent historical trends on consumers – including the COVID-19 pandemic and the inflation era – are considered in both a broad sense and in the context of the online grocery market.