US shoppers spent 15.5% more on food and beverages online in the four weeks ended October 4 than a year earlier, while their spending in physical stores fell 2.8%, according to Circana. Total food and beverage sales slipped by less than 1%, and Circana found shoppers cutting waste and leaning on store brands, which ticked up as national brands fell about 1%. Perishables including produce, dairy, and meat declined, with produce still weighed down by the cyclospora crisis earlier this year, while snacks, beverages, and other shelf-stable goods grew. Grocers’ own results show the same split, as Kroger’s comparable sales were flat last quarter while its digital sales rose 20%, and Albertsons posted negative same-store sales alongside 11% digital growth.
