How 5 different generations shop for groceries

Acosta's The Why? Behind The Buy profiles five generations of grocery shoppers, including Generation Z.

Acosta's "The Why? Behind The Buy" takes a close look at the grocery shopping habits among five generations. Source: Acosta.

Birth rates are declining, the population is aging and for the first time ever, five distinct generations of shoppers are in the grocery aisles, each with their own set of characteristics and attributes that influence shopping behaviors.

Research released today in the 14th edition of The Why? Behind The Buy from Acosta — a leading full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry — provides insight into how each generation is changing the grocery landscape and how brands and retailers should adapt.

“Life stage dictates spending, putting Gen X on top for now, but Millennials will likely take over that spot within the next decade while Gen Z emerges as an influencer in grocery spending," says Colin Stewart, senior V.P. at Acosta. "As we kick off 2018, it is vital that brands and retailers not only understand what influences each generation's shopping habits now, but how demand will change as generations move into different phases of life."

Acosta's The Why? Behind The Buy includes a comprehensive breakdown of each generation with key statistics from each life stage:

Gen Z: Emerging Influencers (Ages 12-21; Gen Z Shoppers Ages 18-21)

Not being in the working world yet, Gen Z shoppers (18-21) reported spending the least on groceries each month, averaging $269.
Gen Z has never experienced life without the internet and 42 percent of Gen Z shoppers indicated they use a digital grocery list.
Gen Z and Millennial shoppers averaged the most grocery shopping trips each month across generations, with Gen Z making 4.5 routine grocery trips a month.

Millennials: Selective Spenders (Ages 22-36)

Millennial shoppers spend an average of $298 monthly on groceries.
This generation is not yet brand loyal — 48 percent agreed they don't care which brand they buy, and will switch when they find a better deal.
Sixty percent of Millennial shoppers use mobile apps for grocery coupons or discounts, significantly higher than any other generation.
Forty-six percent of Millennial shoppers have children under 18 in their household. Millennial parents spend an average of over $100 more per month on groceries than Millennials without children.

Gen X: Spending Big & Digital Adapters (Ages 37-52)

Gen X shoppers reported spending the most each month on groceries, averaging $380.
Many Gen X shoppers have embraced digital grocery tools — 70 percent reported redeeming a digital or mobile grocery coupon within the past month.
Two-thirds of Gen X shoppers indicated they enjoy preparing new dishes and 60 percent agreed they often check out new items in a grocery store.

Boomers: Still Driving Change (Ages 53-71)

While this generation is down-sizing, they still spend an average of $314 each month on groceries.
Boomer shoppers are brand loyal, and are buying 82 percent of the same brands that they bought in the prior year.
These shoppers are also loyal to their grocery store — 93 percent of Boomers reported shopping most often at the same grocery retailer as last year.

Silents: Spending on Groceries (Ages 72+)

Silent shoppers reported spending an average of $287 monthly on groceries, which also reflects the highest household grocery spending per person across all of the generations.
This generation also spends the least amount of their total monthly food budget on eating out.
Silent shoppers focus on value and are big redeemers of coupons, as nine in 10 reported redeeming a paper coupon for a grocery item within the past month.

The Why? Behind The Buy 14th edition was produced with research using a nationally representative random sample of U.S. shoppers via Acosta's proprietary ShopperF1rst online survey methodology. To access the full report, visit www.acosta.com/news.

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Crystal Lindell has more than 10 years of journalism experience, and worked primarily at daily newspapers before joining BNP Media 2010. Before joining Food Engineering as the Managing Editor, she was the managing editor of a sister publication, Candy Industry Magazine, where she learned first-hand the joys of eating chocolate for breakfast. Lindell holds a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois – Springfield and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Illinois University.