Grocery stores crumbled when COVID-19 arrived but experts believe there is hope for a better future as the industry adopts the changes necessary for safe shopping.
1. AI for Measuring Perishability of Goods
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a stalwart in the tech industry but it is expected to also play bigger roles in the grocery sector in the coming years.
Industry experts predicted that grocery stores may start adopting the use of AI to measure when perishable goods will spoil or expire. This process is expected to help reduce the number of perished goods in grocery warehouses.
Costs have been high for many grocery stores over the past year as less people have been purchasing goods in-person, and efficient AI software for measuring perishability could help the industry reduce expenses.
2. Virtual Groceries
In a recent study by New Consumer, it was revealed that half of the consumer respondents say they prefer shopping for grocery goods online.
While digital grocery shopping is still far behind shopping for products in the apparel and beauty segments, analysts believe there is a lot of room for grocery companies to explore the possibilities of offering virtual services.
With more people being cautious of stepping out of their homes due to fears of potentially contracting COVID-19, digital channels and convenient options could be the future of the grocery industry.
3. Increased Shelf-Stable Goods
When restaurants were ordered to shut down, more people had to learn how to cook, increasing demand for shelf-stable goods and non-perishable products.
While some restaurants are now operating, limited capacity and limited offers are among the reasons why many people still cook their food at home or they stockpile on products that do not spoil fast.
Affordable, comfort food has become a staple in homes during the pandemic, and industry experts said grocery stores may start offering a more extensive selection of both perishable goods for cooking and shelf-stable products for post-COVID consumers.
5. Keto Diet Craze
Long quarantine periods inspired the emergence of exercise models and diets that locked communities welcomed, but none exploded as big as the keto diet.
Industry experts believe grocery stores will highlight keto products in their shopping menus as consumers who already started their keto journeys may continue to demand keto goods under the following segments: salt, pies, protein bars, ice cream and waffle mixes.
Grand View Research projected that the ketogenic diet market could grow by 5.5% within the next six years. In 2019, the market was valued at over $9 billion, indicating huge opportunities for grocery stores to take advantage of.
