Learn who we are and how we serve our community
Meet our leaders, trustees and team
Developing the next generation of talent
Covering the latest news and trends in the marketplaces industry
Check out wide-ranging resources that educate and inspire
Learn about the governmental initiatives we support
Connect with other professionals at a local, regional or national event
Find webinars from industry experts on the latest topics and trends
Grow your skills online, in a class or at an event with expert guidance
Access our Member Directory and connect with colleagues
Get recommended matches for new business partners
Find tools to support your education and professional development
Learn about how to join ICSC and the benefits of membership
Stay connected with ICSC and continue to receive membership benefits
Grocery stores will change inside and out over the coming few years — but there will still be grocery stores, predicts CBRE.
“The store will remain central to the grocery industry, but its format and function will be reshaped by multiple factors over the coming years,” said Melina Cordero, CBRE’s head of global retail research. “Grocery operators must diversify their offering to best compete, which will lead to varied store formats for different markets, nontraditional merchandise assortments and an even greater focus on customer convenience.”
Traditional checkout counters will be replaced within 10 years by cart scanners and other technology
Among 11 predictions made in the report, titled 2019 U.S. Food in Demand Series: Grocery, the grocery checkout line will be gone in 10 years, replaced by carts with built-in bar-code scanners and credit-card swipers; mobile-payment apps; and a slew of other technology.
The big grocery chains will continue to invest in smaller, convenience-style stores, especially in urban markets. They will be offering more prepared foods, building in-store restaurants and investing in omni-channel services that include curbside pickup.
“The store will remain central to the grocery industry, but its format and function will be reshaped by multiple factors over the coming years”
And just as there will still be grocery stores, there also will be grocery-anchored shopping centers, the report says.
“Grocery-anchored centers are favored by real estate investors due to the industry’s steady if slow sales growth and minimal e-commerce penetration relative to other categories,” the CBRE report reads. “Still, U.S. grocers face significant pressure to adapt to changing consumer preferences, new store formats, automation and delivery demand.”
By Edmund Mander
Director, Editor-In-Chief/SCT