U.S. Grocery Market Focus: The Walmart Food Shopper

U.S. Grocery Market Focus: The Walmart Food Shopper

As Walmart Inc. pivots aggressively to provide customers with a seamless omni-channel experience, the country’s largest grocer by sales has become an innovation leader even while beginning to earn dividends on nascent-stage growth strategies. Walmart U.S. has already ramped up click-and-collect (online order/in-store pickup) grocery, the sales of which Packaged Facts forecasts to grow at a 154% average annual rate from 2017 through 2021; and grocery delivery is ramping up, too. At Sam’s Club, Scan & Go has proven to be a hit. At the same time, Walmart is bringing its everyday low prices within reach of consumers not traditionally associated with the brand—but who apply online purchasing rationales that align well with the retailer’s core strengths. Competitive analysis reveals that Walmart possesses significant grocery strengths—both in-store and online—when compared to major retailers ranging from ALDI to Target to Amazon. But competitors can also leverage its weaknesses, as the grocery category moves into a more mature online growth phase.

U.S. Grocery Market Focus: The Walmart Food Shopper gives industry participants needed insight into the nation’s largest retailer’s grocery and consumables strengths and weaknesses, framing them within the context of key competitors. The report is part of a four-part series on Walmart Inc., inclusive of Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club.

This report assesses Walmart Inc.’s grocery initiatives and trends within the context of the broader food retail market. It focuses on omni-channel (online, in-store, and aggregated) consumer grocery purchasing trends over time, and includes analysis of click-and-collect, subscription, and private label uptake. In each case, emphasis is placed on Walmart and Sam’s Club, with comparative metrics provided for other major retailers. Additionally, this report includes a market size and forecast for Walmart’s click-and-collect grocery sales.

The report also identifies the factors grocery purchasers deem important when choosing one in-store grocery provider over another or one online-only grocery provider over another, with comparative analysis of Walmart and Sam’s Club users versus those who use other major retailers. Scope of analysis includes factors related to price, convenience, brands and selection, online/omni-channel ordering, and staff/in-store services.