Online Grocery-Shopping Expands Among Select Demographics
July 7, 2010Who are these shoppers, and what do their choices reveal about the grocery industry overall?
When you hear the words “online shopping,” you typically think of consumers buying items like books, clothing and electronics. “Groceries” probably does not appear on that list, but survey data from FGI Research suggests that perhaps it should. A number of consumers are buying their milk and bananas online, whether they get their order shipped to them or pick it up in-store.
This reflects a broader trend in retail: the growth of online shopping, which has revolutionized the industry and the way people shop. In 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that e-commerce represented 44.6% of all retail sales, bringing in approximately $89 million. The stage is set for growth in Internet retail, and consumers are making a habit of buying goods online. As the options for buying groceries expand, it follows that more consumers will make that purchase online too.

