The Square is a centralized hub where we can bring our free tools and content to the wider location analytics community.
Our tools are built with a privacy-first architecture. Learn more about Placer’s privacy technology and policies in our Trust Center.
Following an Omicron-plagued Q1, grocery visits rose again relative to last quarter. And continuing the trend of the past three quarters, nationwide grocery visits in Q2 2022 once again increased both year-over-year (YoY) and year-over-three years (Yo3Y). The continued strength of grocery is a testament to the long-term benefits of the COVID grocery boom and to shoppers’ current value-orientation which could be leading some consumers to choose home-cooked meals over eating out.
Analyzing dozens of brands including:
Economics Driving Foot Traffic
Towards the end of Q2, nationwide grocery visits dropped relative to Q2 2021 but remained strong in relation to Q2 2019 – indicating that while the category is undergoing a correction following its impressive pandemic performance, inflation is not having a significant impact on grocery visits, as consumers look to save where they can by choosing to eat at home and forego restaurant meals.
“The current economic climate may be pushing grocery foot traffic up.”
0.0%
Visits per Venue Trending Down
While overall quarterly visits in Q2 were up 0.5% YoY, visits per venue were slightly down, with grocery chains seeing 1.2% fewer visits per location in Q2 2022 than in Q2 2021. This could indicate that, while some grocery brands – and especially value-oriented chains – still have room for growth, most chains may want to think twice before opening up new locations in already saturated markets.
“Some grocery brands – and especially value-oriented chains – still have room for growth.”
-1.2%
Regional Boosts to Grocery Store Traffic
In the early days of the pandemic, grocery visits spiked throughout the country. As COVID waned, some consumers held onto pandemic habits, including increased grocery shopping – and several regional grocers are seeing a significant boost as a result. Monthly visits to ACME and Weis in the mid-Atlantic, Ingles in the Southeast, and Grocery Outlet Bargain Outlet in California remained significantly higher than they were in 2019.
“As COVID waned, some consumers held onto some of pandemic habits, including increased grocery shopping – and several regional grocers are seeing a significant boost as a result.”
+17.0%
National Chains Seeing Sustained Growth
National grocery chains – most notably Trader Joe’s and Aldi – also saw a significant increase in their Yo3Y monthly foot traffic in H1 2022. And despite the across-the-board visit dips in March as consumers adjusted to inflation and high gas prices, the five national chains analyzed saw foot traffic bounce back quickly in Q2 to end the quarter on a high note.
“National grocery chains – most notably Trader Joe’s and Aldi – also saw a significant increase in their Yo3Y monthly foot traffic in H1 2022.”
+23.3%
Summary
While the nationwide grocery foot traffic has come down somewhat from its pandemic peaks, the category is still seeing elevated visit levels when compared to its 2019 performance. And while the current situation may not give the category the same boost as COVID did, grocery brands that emphasize value will likely continue to thrive in H2 2022.
More Mobile Location Intelligence Insights
From our Library
- White Paper
Find out how malls are reinventing themselves and staying relevant thanks to experiential offerings, omnichannel options, and strategic tenant selection.
- August 10, 2022
- Webinar
Breaking down the Back to School 2022 period to see which retailers benefited the most
- August 9, 2022
- White Paper
Gyms and health clubs are experiencing a major visit surge, driven by increasingly health-conscious consumers excited about the post-COVID fitness reopenings.
- July 28, 2022
From our Blog
We took a look at the latest foot traffic data to see how inflation, supply chain woes, and COVID-19 are driving visits to off-price retailers
- August 16, 2022
As shoppers continue to tighten their budgets in the face of high prices, we checked in to see how the economy is affecting three wholesale giants.
- August 15, 2022
Interest in home improvement soared during the pandemic. We check in with the industry to see how it is faring with a new set of challenges.
- August 11, 2022
