8 trends that will shape the grocery industry in 2021

After one of the most tumultuous years in recent memories, experts say 2021 will be the year grocers move from reacting to strategically managing for long-term growth.

By Jeff Wells , Sam Silverstein , Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 4, 2021

Pandemic-fueled omnichannel shopping surge here to stay: Nielsen

Buying across both store and online channels increased 50% in 2020 and doesn't show signs of slowing anytime soon, the data firm noted.

By Rosie Bradbury • Jan. 4, 2021

Alert Innovation names veteran tech exec to head sales efforts

John Gargasz brings experience as an entrepreneur and angel investor to the micro-fulfillment technology developer.

By Sam Silverstein • Dec. 23, 2020

Fast-growing Mercato names new chief marketing officer

Jean-Michel Boujon helped scale car-sharing company Getaround to hundreds of new markets and aims to do the same for the grocery e-commerce firm.

By Rosie Bradbury • Dec. 23, 2020

Pardon the Disruption

Grocery Dive's column by Lead Editor Jeff Wells looks at the forces shaping food retail.

Dec. 22, 2020

GoPuff to start delivering at-home COVID-19 tests on demand

The company, which teamed up with Purlab, claims to be the first retailer offering rapid same-day delivery of the testing kits.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 22, 2020

Giant Food to spotlight women- and minority-owned brands with new labels

Starting next month, more than 3,100 Giant Food products will feature updated shelf labels in-store and online as the grocer looks to boost its supplier diversity efforts. 

By Rosie Bradbury • Dec. 22, 2020

Pardon the Disruption: 2021 will be a critical year for supermarkets

They've benefited from one-stop shopping, but the same structural and competitive forces that rattled them pre-pandemic are still lurking.

By Jeff Wells • Dec. 21, 2020

H-E-B expands SNAP online payments chainwide

The Texas grocer now accepts Electronic Benefits Transfer payments across its delivery footprint and 230 pickup-enabled stores.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 21, 2020

Consumer worries about COVID-19 are growing, but fewer are wearing masks: report

A quarter of shoppers plan to reduce spending on food for the holidays, according to research from Dunnhumby.

By Sam Silverstein • Dec. 18, 2020

Here's how grocers should ramp up digital deals and promotions

Embracing online coupons and offering discounts on e-commerce services can help grocers reach more low-income and price-sensitive shoppers, writes Nick Minnick of Chicory. 

By Nick Minnick • Dec. 17, 2020

Aldi, Instacart bring SNAP online payments to 1K additional stores

The two companies have added the service to the majority of the discounter's store fleet in a matter of weeks.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 17, 2020

Walmart to take middle-mile trucks driverless

Since the self-driving pilot with Gatik began last year, the multi-temperature vehicles have traveled more than 70,000 miles along a short supply route in Bentonville, Arkansas.

By Rosie Bradbury • Dec. 16, 2020

Tom Thumb lays off delivery drivers in Dallas-Forth Worth area

The Albertsons-owned chain will reportedly shift last-mile handling to third-party companies while still relying on its employees to shop and pack online orders.

By Jeff Wells • Dec. 15, 2020

Farmstead will expand to 14 more markets in 2021

The online startup said it has also achieved profitability on a per-order basis in its home market of San Francisco.

By Jeff Wells , Rosie Bradbury • Dec. 15, 2020

Blue Apron rolls out 'holistic wellness' campaign to sustain at-home cooking trend

The meal-kit maker is using "Wellness 360" to roll out new menu offerings and recipes with less prep time, along with promoting several partnerships including ones with Disney+ and WW.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 15, 2020

Untapped: How grocers are growing their private label alcohol assortment

Wine has long been the focus, but experts say booming sales this year make store brand booze ripe for expanded selections and higher price points.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 14, 2020

Online meat services boom during the pandemic

ButcherBox and other companies are seeing triple-digit growth, while Sam’s Club just started delivering ground beef and steaks to customers.

By Jeff Wells • Dec. 14, 2020

HelloFresh boosts revenue forecast as it prepares to double production capacity

The German meal-kit maker has raised revenue projections for 2020 and plans to bring U.S. brands to customers in other countries.

By Sam Silverstein • Dec. 14, 2020

Instacart will dole out shopper bonuses

The e-commerce company announced it will distribute between $50 and $500 to in-store and full-service shoppers, along with shift leads.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 11, 2020

Small, local brands are on shoppers' minds, Instacart report finds

The e-commerce company's findings indicate that consumers are making shifts in their buying habits as a result of the pandemic and racial justice protests this year.

By Rosie Bradbury • Dec. 10, 2020

Food Lion investing $212.5M in mid-Atlantic store remodels, expanding pickup service

The grocery chain has remodeled more than 90% of its stores over the last few years, and the latest phase will freshen up 112 stores in five states.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 10, 2020

Online delivery and pickup sales rise to $5.9B in November but remain well off their peak

The number of monthly users rose 3% last month compared to August, according to data from Brick Meets Click and Mercatus.

By Sam Silverstein • Dec. 9, 2020

Kroger leaps into top 10 online companies list for the first time

The retailer’s more than $11 billion in estimated e-commerce sales for 2020 put it at No. 9 on eMarketer’s ranking, just ahead of Costco.

By Jeff Wells • Dec. 9, 2020

Disruptor of the Year: Amazon

The e-commerce giant expanded its physical footprint with new grocery store formats while rolling out technology to streamline in-store and online shopping.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 9, 2020