“Measure what is measurable and make measurable what is not so.” Spoken more than four centuries ago, it’s unlikely that Galileo was referring to the use of eCommerce technologies in the grocery retail sector. However, the principle of his timeless quote aligns perfectly with a very modern challenge facing today’s grocery stores. Many retailers aren’t realizing the full value of their investment in omnichannel grocery shopping technology — and it’s the result of not measuring all that it can do. Because grocery technology tends to be considered solely as a means to facilitate transactions, it ..read more

“Thank you for signing up to our traditional loyalty program. Please enjoy 5% off your next purchase.” Offers such as this are not enough anymore. When it comes to grocery loyalty programs, passive systems offering small discounts and impersonal messaging aren’t going to cut it.  Here’s why: Mass Retailers are too good at leveraging their advantages to match the behaviors of modern customers. That’s how the Walmarts of the world have taken advantage of the price sensitivity created by the current economic situation to become the preferred choice for grocery shopping among American househo ..read more

If grocery shoppers had a mascot in 2023, it would have been the chameleon. The creature perfectly symbolizes a year of shifting consumer behavior and the grocery  industry’s response. Faced with inflation, increasing food prices, and a consistently inconsistent economic outlook, the entire grocery industry found itself catering to shoppers who were insistent on affordability and value without compromising on the convenience to which they had grown accustomed. This shift in consumer mindset led to significant changes in long-established shopping habits, including: An increased emphasis o ..read more

This post was originally written November 4, 2020 and then updated. Ready-to-eat meals aren’t just a passing trend—they’re a strategic opportunity for grocers aiming to meet modern consumer needs while simultaneously boosting profitability. According to recent data, the global market for ready-to-eat meals was valued at USD 143.86 billion in 2021 and is growing at an impressive rate of 5.1% year-over-year. This surge isn’t accidental; it’s fuelled by shifting food preferences and the busy lifestyles of both working individuals and college students. But what truly makes ready-to-eat meals a win ..read more

By: Emi Takeda In this era of omnichannel grocery, customers can no longer be defined as shopping for items through a single channel, or one fulfillment method. Instead, they prefer a more convenient approach where they can choose the channel that best suits their needs and requirements at that precise moment. Understanding modern grocery customers’ ever-evolving preferences is key when developing an omnichannel digital strategy and experience. But in order to prioritize which initiatives to execute and determine how much of an investment to make, retailers need to have a deep understanding of ..read more

For women who are new to the tech industry, navigating career opportunities can seem overwhelming when you consider the current state of the job market and the added gender disparities of the industry. Despite some progress in increasing women’s representation in the tech industry, they are still significantly underrepresented, especially in leadership positions. The Ladies of Mercatus (LOM) community is an online network of women across our organization who share and connect with each other. Originally established through our shared Slack workspace, the community has grown to organize lunches ..read more

Grocery retailers are discovering that customers want to interact with businesses that reward them for their loyalty and relate to them as individuals by providing personalized interactions. A study by Epsilon and GBH Insights found that 80% of US consumers said they’d be more likely to do business with a company if it offers personalized experiences. And loyalty programs can be such a strong driver that 87% of customers satisfied with a retailer’s paid loyalty program will purchase from that retailer over a competitor with a lower price, according to research from ebbo. Clearly, grocery websi ..read more

When a customer abandons a cart in your brick-and-mortar grocery store, it creates an obvious and immediate problem that takes up physical space, requires additional restocking labor and may lead to lost perishables and revenue. An abandoned digital shopping cart may not have the same physical presence or immediate costs, but the loss in potential revenue and customer loyalty could be costing you more than you realize. It’s much easier for customers to walk away from a full or partially filled cart in the online world than in the real world. A survey of 271 US retailers and 222 shoppers by Cor ..read more

What Does Grocery Innovation Look Like in 2023? The future of grocery retail will belong to regional grocers who ensure that mobile is a critical pillar of their omnichannel strategy – one that customers turn to for a convenient shopping, fulfillment, and post-purchase experience. But, simply offering a mobile grocery shopping app to customers isn’t enough to build loyalty, improve share of wallet, and win market share in 2023. Retailers need a mobile app that is designed to elevate and reimagine the end-to-end customer experience and provide a whole new degree of convenience that delight cons ..read more

At Mercatus, we are committed to building a culture of recognition that celebrates our team’s achievements and fosters a sense of community, even in a virtual environment. By celebrating big moments, recognizing achievements, and giving back, we have cultivated a place of belonging that has led to a motivated team. We understand that our team members have different preferences regarding employee recognition. Some enjoy public praise, while others find a private exchange more meaningful. We encourage our leaders to get to know how their teams like to receive recognition. The how is simple; they ..read more