Deep Dive

Online Grocery and CPG Shopping Habits

Increasingly, consumers are becoming comfortable purchasing groceries online. Today, more than eight in 10 (82%) of consumers have made a recent grocery purchase online. 

Let’s take a closer look at their habits and behaviors when shopping online for groceries.

Online Grocery Shopping Budgets

In the last year, half of consumers have started spending a larger portion of their grocery shopping budget online. A mere 13% have decreased spending. 

For Many, Online Grocery Spending is Increasing
In the last 12 months, would you say the proportion of your grocery spend that occurs ONLINE has:

The largest portion of shoppers (83%) spend $500 or less online on groceries each month. 

Monthly Online Grocery Spending
Approximately how much do you personally spend ONLINE on groceries per month on average?
2023
$0
11%
$1-$250
46%
$251-$500
26%
$501-$1,000
13%
$1,001-$2,000
4%
2022
$0
17%
$1-$250
49%
$251-$500
22%
$501-$1,000
10%
$1,001-$2,000
2%

Reasons for Shopping for Groceries Online

There are several factors that motivate shoppers to purchase grocery items online. It comes as no surprise that time savings tops the list. Avoiding impulse purchases and being able to easily access product information – including prices and product reviews – are also important factors. 

Key Reasons Consumers Purchase Grocery Items Online
Time savings
77%
Avoiding impulse purchases that happen in-store
41%
Ease of comparing products and prices online
38%
Ease of accessing product information, including reviews
34%
It’s difficult for me to get to a grocery store
22%
Personal safety/hygiene preferences
13%

Online Grocery Shopping Services Used

Online shoppers have many options for purchasing groceries. However, the majority – 78% – are using pickup or delivery service from a traditional grocery or big box store.

Of note, use of nearly all types of online grocery services (with the exception of exclusively online services) is up year-over-year. 

Top Online Grocery Shopping Services
Portion of consumers who have used each of the following online grocery shopping services in the past three months.
2023
Pickup or delivery from traditional grocery store (including local, Walmart, Target etc)
78%
An online service not affiliated with a traditional grocery store (Amazon Fresh, etc)
26%
Third party service that pairs you with a personal shopper who buys your groceries and delivers to your home (Instacart)
30%
Meal boxes (Blue Apron, Home Chef, Hello Fresh)
21%
2022
Pickup or delivery from traditional grocery store (including local, Walmart, Target etc)
68%
An online service not affiliated with a traditional grocery store (Amazon Fresh, etc)
26%
Third party service that pairs you with a personal shopper who buys your groceries and delivers to your home (Instacart)
22%
Meal boxes (Blue Apron, Home Chef, Hello Fresh)
18%
2021
Pickup or delivery from traditional grocery store (including local, Walmart, Target etc)
65%
An online service not affiliated with a traditional grocery store (Amazon Fresh, etc)
22%
Third party service that pairs you with a personal shopper who buys your groceries and delivers to your home (Instacart)
20%
Meal boxes (Blue Apron, Home Chef, Hello Fresh)
15%
2017
Pickup or delivery from traditional grocery store (including local, Walmart, Target etc)
38%
An online service not affiliated with a traditional grocery store (Amazon Fresh, etc)
39%
Third party service that pairs you with a personal shopper who buys your groceries and delivers to your home (Instacart)
17%
Meal boxes (Blue Apron, Home Chef, Hello Fresh)
34%

Types of Grocery Products Purchased Online

Consumers purchase many types of grocery items online, with non-perishables, personal care items, and home care items topping the list. Notably, the portion of shoppers who have purchased each category online has increased significantly year-over-year. 

Portion of Shoppers Who Purchase Each Grocery Category Online
Non-perishable foods
2023
78%
2022
70%
2021
70%
2017
58%
Personal care items
2023
77%
2022
70%
2021
64%
2017
49%
Home care items
2023
73%
2022
66%
2021
61%
2017
45%
Soft drinks, juice
2023
67%
2022
61%
2021
58%
2017
33%
Fresh food
2023
61%
2022
56%
2021
56%
2017
47%
Frozen foods
2023
60%
2022
54%
2021
54%
2017
32%
Alcoholic beverages
2023
23%
2022
20%
2021
17%
2017
12%
Baby care items
2023
22%
2022
20%
2021
N/A
2017
N/A

These Shoppers Aren’t Loyal

Online grocery shoppers aren’t as loyal as one might like to think. Less than a third purchase the same products from the same brands each time they shop. 30% stick to their beloved brands – but will choose different products each time they shop. 

Typical Online Grocery Shopping Behavior
When purchasing groceries online, which describes your typical behavior?
Stick closely to a list you make before you shop
46%
Purchase the same items from the same brands shop to shop
32%
Stick to the brands, but not always the same items, that you know
30%

Openness to New Products

Today, the vast majority – 91% – of online grocery shoppers are willing to purchase items they’ve never gotten before. 

Portion of Consumers Open to Buying New (to Them) Grocery Products When Shopping Online
2023
91%
2022
92%
2021
83%

This might be by choice. Or, it could be out of necessity; 87% have experienced a desired grocery item being out of stock online. 

Key Takeaway 1

Consumers Have a Growing Appetite for Online Grocery Shopping

Half of consumers have ramped up their online grocery spending this year. And increasingly, shoppers are willing to purchase a wide variety of grocery products from myriad online grocery services. 

One key reason consumers shop for groceries online is the ease with which they can access product information (including pricing and ratings and reviews) and compare options. It’s essential to showcase this key information front and center. 

Key Takeaway 2

Shoppers are Open to Unknown Items

It’s easy to assume consumers purchase the same grocery products week after week. With this assumption, it can seem impossible to break through to these customers. 

But the reality is, the vast majority of online grocery shoppers are willing to purchase products they’ve never tried before. 

The presence of ratings and reviews can boost their confidence – and increase their likelihood of purchasing unknown products. We explore this topic in more detail here.