Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com/i/139333
The FUTURE of FOOD SHOPPING Is HERE Whether greeting customers via a hologram at the entrance or allowing shoppers to buy their weekly groceries at a virtual store at the train station, new technology is changing how customers interact with their food merchants. BY DENISE SHOUKAS C ustomers may soon place deli orders on their phone while walking around the store, shop their local farmers market online or buy milk and other staples at massive 24-hour vending machines. And these innovations aren't years away. Food retail technology is developing at accelerated rates, with advances offering convenience and personalized service rising to the top. Consider these statistics: More than 25 million Americans use coupon applications each month, according to the "National Eating Trends" report from market research firm NPD Group. Consumer time spent in retailer apps skyrocketed by 525 percent from December 2011 to December 2012, found app services firm Flurry, a U.S.-based measurement and advertising specialist, in a study of more than 1,800 iOS and Android shopping apps. Retailers can benefit from these trends by better understanding their customers' shopping behaviors, while connecting and engaging with them in a consistent, personalized way that is possible only with the 24/7 technology. 28 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com