Shifts in Where We Shop for Groceries

Straight grocery stores are losing buyers according to a report by the USDA’s Annemarie Kuhns.

“We found some changes over time; 72.7 percent of expenditures were at supermarkets in 1999 and this has fallen to 63.8 percent.”

Where is the business going? Kuhns said, “Supercenters. The share of food at supercenters rose over that time from three percent in 1999 to 18 percent.”

Shoppers are also buying at club stores, drug stores and online.