The Grocery Dive Outlook for 2022

Food retailers continue to benefit from at-home eating, but they also face a slew of challenges that promise to make this a dynamic year for the industry.

By Grocery Dive Staff • Feb. 3, 2022

Retail startup opens first frictionless grocery store, eyes 500 more

The first Nourish + Bloom Market location, an approximately 1,500-square-foot store equipped with computer vision cameras and robotic delivery vehicles, opened recently in Fayetteville, Georgia.

By Sam Silverstein • Feb. 3, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Back-end and operational technology

From price forecasting tools to inventory management technology, grocers are leveraging data and digital innovation to become more efficient.

By Grocery Dive staff

Schnucks now has deli ordering kiosks at more than half of its stores

The Midwestern chain said the self-service technology is boosting convenience for shoppers, but it's also targeting a department where grocers have struggled to hire and retain workers.

By Sam Silverstein • Feb. 1, 2022

Pardon the Disruption: Digital personalization means a unique store for every shopper

The growth of online grocery shopping is pressuring retailers to more effectively curate the large selection of products they offer.

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 31, 2022

72% of shoppers say transparency matters. Here's what grocers can do.

Closely following values-based shopping trends and providing more information through digital shopping channels are key, according to the Food Industry Association.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 31, 2022

Sam's Club rolls out inventory-checking robots chainwide

The technology, based on software developed by artificial intelligence company Brain Corp, will be mounted on autonomous floor-cleaning machines already in operation in stores across the U.S.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 31, 2022

Unlock the value of your data with A/B testing

If you are like many retailers, you've been investing in gathering data. Now what are you going to do with it?

By Johnny Stoddard, Chief Data Scientist and Cofounder, MarketDial • Jan. 31, 2022

Kroger to extend delivery network with 'spoke' facility in Kentucky

Set to open later in 2022, the 50,000-square-foot center in Louisville will ferry orders prepared at the grocer's Ocado robot-driven warehouse in Ohio to customers' homes.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 28, 2022

Can retailers grab more CPG ad dollars without repeating digital media's mistakes?

While firmly in a boom time — U.S. spending on retail media doubled between 2020 and 2021 — the category contends with saturation and bumpy transitions.

By Peter Adams • Jan. 28, 2022

Lighter bots, faster orders: How Ocado is innovating in e-commerce

The Kroger partner plans to introduce new robots, including an automated on-grid picker, and routing technology that will allow it to get more same-day orders out to shoppers.

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 27, 2022

Albertsons to deploy AI-powered food waste-reduction tech chainwide

The grocer is adding the platform from Afresh Technologies as automation has helped drive unexpectedly strong fresh department sales.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 27, 2022

Automation beckons retailers as labor challenges endure

Technologies like self-checkout and ordering kiosks are offering relief to grocers unable to hire enough workers to handle essential functions.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 19, 2022

Walmart adds digital tools to match products with health preferences

A new online and in-app experience includes a "Shop-By-Diet" scanner and dietary profile feature that incorporate wellness criteria into grocery shopping.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Updated Jan. 19, 2022

Wakefern to pilot frictionless shopping tech at New Jersey store

The retail cooperative is conducting the test in conjunction with Israeli computer vision startup Trigo, which is making its U.S. debut with the partnership.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 14, 2022

Walmart and HomeValet begin selling unattended grocery delivery boxes

The $499 temperature-controlled units will initially be available to selected customers of the retailer's InHome delivery service along the east coast of Florida, HomeValet Chief Operating Officer Jack Simms said.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 13, 2022

Kroger levels up autonomous delivery with Nuro's commercial-grade vehicles

The grocer will begin using the tech company's third-generation model, which has twice as much cargo room as its predecessor, modular storage and new safety features, in Houston.

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 13, 2022

Grocers are experimenting with delivery fees. Here are 8 key factors to consider, experts say

Speedier service, customer loyalty and labor demands are some of the things grocers need to weigh when determining fees, order minimums and subscriptions.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 12, 2022

Foxtrot brings in $100M, plans to open 25 new stores in 2022

The upscale convenience store chain is also testing cashierless technology and looking to triple the size of its engineering team to about 120 people, co-founder and CEO Mike LaVitola said.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 11, 2022

Amazon looms large in latest consumer index from Dunnhumby

The e-commerce giant took the No. 1 spot while its Amazon Fresh brand grabbed the No. 5 slot, reflecting the continuing shift in consumer preferences toward digital.

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 11, 2022

Engage3 taps former Gorillas, Lidl exec to spearhead international growth

Stephen Edelman will lead the competitive pricing data startup's efforts to expand to more than 30 countries in 2022.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 5, 2022

Schnucks rolls out service to help shoppers track healthy food purchases

The free Good For You program highlights how many products meet certain nutritional standards on grocery receipts for customers who opt in.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 5, 2022

7 trends that will shape the grocery industry in 2022

Labor and inflation challenges will test retailers this year, but experts also see opportunities like new e-commerce services, more personalized offerings and a booming digital ads space.

By Jeff Wells , Catherine Douglas Moran , Sam Silverstein • Jan. 4, 2022

Schnucks adds self-service CBD kiosks to EatWell store

The grocer has installed two of the vending machines, supplied by cannabinoid producer NatuEra, in its natural foods-focused location in Columbia, Missouri.

By Sam Silverstein • Dec. 23, 2021

Alert Innovation names new CEO

Fritz Morgan has taken over leadership of the micro-fulfillment technology developer from founder John Lert, who will become executive chairman.

By Sam Silverstein • Dec. 22, 2021

Walmart teams with TalkShopLive as social commerce ramp up continues

Following efforts on Twitter and TikTok, the partnership is the retailer's latest move to bridge content with commerce.

By Chris Kelly • Dec. 22, 2021