Grocery Stores of the Future

Grocery stores, love them or hate them. For some people they represent possibilities and, for others, drudgery and anxiety. There are many forms in which they come: small local chains, mid-level franchises, economic places like Trader Joe’s or Aldi and, of course, Whole Foods. A growing number of people also rely on services like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh to create fresh “out-of-the-box” dinners that take the hassle out of shopping and cooking.

Grocery stores have changed over the years, but the most recent changes include an intense shift toward automation. There is talk that Amazon, the company to recently purchase Whole Foods, is considering the creation of a fully automated store. This will take the form of Amazon GO and will not require interaction with cashiers or even waiting in line. Shoppers will simply be monitored through their digital devices. All you need to participate is an Amazon account, a smartphone and the Amazon Go app.

Since this trend is geared toward people not necessarily entering a brick-and-mortar store, chains are going in the opposite direction to try and attract customers. To compete with so many options, companies strive toward making your time in the grocery store an experience more than a one-stop shop. There is a push toward grocery stores being more than just places to buy food, but rather places to have “shopping experiences.” This might include services like cooking demonstrations and more eat-in areas or even a larger selection of goods like beauty products or clothes. No matter which route you choose, our shopping ways will continue to adapt and evolve.