The End Of The Supermarket As We Know It?

Safeway is being acquired by a private equity firm and analysts see how the supermarket as we know it will change.

For one, supermarkets will probably need to shrink and focus their efforts. Out of 128 categories of items carried by supermarkets, the stores have a 50 percent or more market share in only 60 of them, according to an analysis by consultant and president of Dellmart, Frank Dell. Much the way department stores evolved by no longer selling televisions, Dell said, supermarkets will also have to be more selective about what they put on their shelves.

Customer habits are also changing. With the rise of two-income families, there aren’t as many women shopping during the day. And so busy families are hurrying after work to the store so they can easily throw together a meal. During the week, people don’t want to wander through aisles of endless pantry items; they increasingly want prepared foods and other quick options.

Already, the median size of the supermarket is declining, according to data from the Food Marketing Institute.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.