Generational grocery shopping behavior in the U.S. - statistics & facts

Does age truly shape our behavior, even when it comes to grocery shopping? Although grocery shopping is an activity shared by everyone, it may evoke different sentiments in the various generations of consumers. Younger consumers might find it new and exciting, as they often embrace new business models and set new trends in a variety of markets. In contrast, older consumers are often comfortable with their current routines, possibly feeling uninclined to seek out change and might find shopping for groceries a simple mandatory chore.

Grocery store sales in the U.S.
*****bn USD

Average household food expenditure among millennials in the U.S.
*******USD

Average household food at home expenditure among baby boomers in the U.S.
******USD

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Current statistics on this topic

Population

Population of the U.S. 2024, by generation

Eating Behavior

Types of diets among Millennials in the United States in 2024

Food & Nutrition

Grocery shopping: U.S. consumers' expenditure per week 2006-2025

Overview

Population of the U.S. 2024, by generation
Population of the U.S. 2024, by generation
Resident population in the United States in 2024, by generation (in millions)
Grocery store sales in the U.S. 1992-2025
Grocery store sales in the U.S. 1992-2025
Grocery store sales in the United States from 1992 to 2025 (in billion U.S. dollars)
U.S. annual household expenditures 2023, by generation
U.S. annual household expenditures 2023, by generation
Mean annual household expenditures in the United States in 2023, by generation (in U.S. dollars)
Grocery shopping: U.S. consumers' expenditure per week 2006-2025
Grocery shopping: U.S. consumers' expenditure per week 2006-2025
Consumers' weekly grocery expenditure in the United States from 2006 to 2025 (in U.S. dollars per household)
Grocery shopping: U.S. consumers' weekly trips per household 2006-2025
Grocery shopping: U.S. consumers' weekly trips per household 2006-2025
Consumers' weekly grocery shopping trips in the United States from 2006 to 2025 (average weekly trips per household)
U.S.: impulse shopping habits by generation 2023
U.S.: impulse shopping habits by generation 2023
Share of consumers who frequently or occasionally purchase on impulse in the United States in 2023, by generation
Food and beverage private label dollar share by generation in the U.S. 2024
Food and beverage private label dollar share by generation in the U.S. 2024
Dollar share of food and beverage private label in the United States in 2024, by generation

Store selection

Grocery channel used by consumers in the United States 2023, by generation
Grocery channel used by consumers in the United States 2023, by generation
Grocery channel shopped in by consumers in the United States as of February 2023, by generation
Millennials' favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025
Millennials' favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025
Most popular grocery stores among millennials in the United States as of Q1 2025
Generation X's favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025
Generation X's favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025
Most popular grocery stores among Generation X in the United States as of Q1 2025
Baby boomers' favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025
Baby boomers' favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025
Most popular grocery stores among baby boomers in the United States as of Q1 2025
Locations consumers purchase groceries by age U.S. 2023
Locations consumers purchase groceries by age U.S. 2023
Where consumers usually purchase groceries in the United States in June 2023, by age group
Locations consumers prefer purchasing groceries by age U.S. 2023
Locations consumers prefer purchasing groceries by age U.S. 2023
Where consumers prefer to purchase groceries in the United States in June 2023, by age group
Shopping channel preference among U.S. millennials & Gen Z for groceries 2023
Shopping channel preference among U.S. millennials & Gen Z for groceries 2023
Share of Gen Z and millennial consumers that would prefer to shop mostly online/in-store for groceries in the United States in 2023
Gen Z regularly grocery shopping at selected grocery stores in the U.S. 2025
Gen Z regularly grocery shopping at selected grocery stores in the U.S. 2025
From which of these stores do you regularly buy food and products for everyday use?
Gen Z food shopping in the U.S. 2023, by channel
Gen Z food shopping in the U.S. 2023, by channel
Generation Z food shopping in the U.S. as of 2023, by purchase channel

Grocery shopping

Attitudes of consumers towards grocery shopping in the U.S. by age 2023
Attitudes of consumers towards grocery shopping in the U.S. by age 2023
Share of consumers who found grocery shopping pleasant in the United States in June 2023, by age group
Enjoyment of grocery shopping in the U.S. by generation 2023
Enjoyment of grocery shopping in the U.S. by generation 2023
Share of consumers who enjoy grocery shopping in the United States as of February 2023, by generation
Grocery shopping responsibility share in the United States by generation 2023
Grocery shopping responsibility share in the United States by generation 2023
Co-shopping split of groceries in multi-person households in in the United States in 2023, by generation
Share of discount stores shoppers in the U.S. by generation 2025
Share of discount stores shoppers in the U.S. by generation 2025
Share of consumers regularly buying food and products for everyday use in discount stores in the United States in 2025, by generation
Frequency of grocery shopping by generation in the United States in 2024
Frequency of grocery shopping by generation in the United States in 2024
How often do you do your grocery shopping?
Unplanned alcoholic beverage purchases U.S. 2024 by generation
Unplanned alcoholic beverage purchases U.S. 2024 by generation
Share of consumers making unplanned alcoholic beverage purchases in the United States in 2024, by generation

Expenditure

Average household food expenditure in the U.S. by generation 2023
Average household food expenditure in the U.S. by generation 2023
Average household food expenditure in the United States in 2023, by generation (in U.S. dollars)
Average household food at home expenditure in the U.S. by generation 2024
Average household food at home expenditure in the U.S. by generation 2024
Average household food at home expenditure in the United States in 2024, by generation (in U.S. dollars)
Average U.S. food at home household expenditure 2024
Average U.S. food at home household expenditure 2024
Average food at home household expenditure in the United States in 2024, by age and category (in U.S. dollars)
Share of at-home food spending of households in the U.S. by generation 2023
Share of at-home food spending of households in the U.S. by generation 2023
Share of food at home expenditure of households in the United States in 2023, by generation

Inflation

Food affordability by age in the U.S. in 2023
Food affordability by age in the U.S. in 2023
Share of shoppers struggling to afford food in the United States in 2023, by age
Change in grocery spending among consumers in the United States by age 2024
Change in grocery spending among consumers in the United States by age 2024
Share of consumers expecting to spend more on groceries in the United States in 2024, by age group
Consumer nonessential grocery spending cut backs U.S. 2023, by generation
Consumer nonessential grocery spending cut backs U.S. 2023, by generation
Share of consumers who reduced their nonessential grocery spending due to increasing prices in the United States as of April 2023, by generation
Consumers experiencing higher food & beverage prices in the U.S. by generation 2024
Consumers experiencing higher food & beverage prices in the U.S. by generation 2024
Share of consumers who experienced an increase in the cost of food and beverages in the United States in 2024, by generation
Groceries which experienced a price hike in the U.S. by consumer age 2025
Groceries which experienced a price hike in the U.S. by consumer age 2025
Grocery categories in which consumers experienced a price increase in the United States as of February 2025, by age group
Grocery items Gen Z are purchasing less often due to rising prices U.S. 2024
Grocery items Gen Z are purchasing less often due to rising prices U.S. 2024
Which of the following grocery items are you purchasing less often due to rising prices and/or supply shortages?
Steps consumers will take to combat shrinkflation by age group in the U.S. 2024
Steps consumers will take to combat shrinkflation by age group in the U.S. 2024
Consumer actions to combat shrinkflation in the United States in 2024, by age group

Sustainable and organic food shopping

Concern about the environmental impact of food U.S. 2023, by generation
Concern about the environmental impact of food U.S. 2023, by generation
Concern about the environmental impact of food in the U.S. as of 2023, by generation
U.S. consumers buying more produce due to environmental concerns by generation 2025
U.S. consumers buying more produce due to environmental concerns by generation 2025
Share of consumers who bought more produce due to environmental concerns in the United States in 2025, by generation
Consumers avoid plastic packaging when buying food by generation in the U.S. 2025
Consumers avoid plastic packaging when buying food by generation in the U.S. 2025
Share of consumers who try to avoid plastic packaging when buying food in the United States in 2025, by generation
Sustainable packaging as main factor when buying food by generation in the U.S. 2025
Sustainable packaging as main factor when buying food by generation in the U.S. 2025
Share of consumers who felt that environmentally friendly packaging was the most important factor when buying food in the United States in 2025, by generation
Organic as main factor when buying food by generation in the U.S. 2026
Organic as main factor when buying food by generation in the U.S. 2026
Share of consumers who felt that organic was the most important factor when buying food in the United States in 2026, by generation
Organic vs conventional food purchases by generation in the U.S. 2024
Organic vs conventional food purchases by generation in the U.S. 2024
Share of consumers buying organic or conventional food products in the United States in 2024, by generation
U.S. adults who consider if food is processed before buying it, 2024, by generation
U.S. adults who consider if food is processed before buying it, 2024, by generation
Percentage of adults in the United States who consider if food is processed before purchasing it as of 2024, by generation

Online grocery shopping

Share of regular online grocery shoppers in the U.S. 2025, by generation
Share of regular online grocery shoppers in the U.S. 2025, by generation
Share of shoppers buying groceries regularly online in the United States in 2025, by generation
Share of weekly online grocery buyers U.S. 2023, by generation
Share of weekly online grocery buyers U.S. 2023, by generation
Share of consumers purchasing groceries online at least once a week in the United States in 2023, by generational cohort
Share of online grocery buyers in the U.S. 2023, by generational cohort
Share of online grocery buyers in the U.S. 2023, by generational cohort
Share of consumers buying groceries online in the United States in 2023, by generational cohort
Main reasons Gen Z buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
Main reasons Gen Z buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
Leading reasons Gen Z purchase groceries online in the United States in 2023
Main reasons Millennials buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
Main reasons Millennials buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
Leading reasons Millennials purchase groceries online in the United States in 2023
Main reasons Gen X buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
Main reasons Gen X buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
Leading reasons Gen X purchase groceries online in the United States in 2023
Main reasons Boomers buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
Main reasons Boomers buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
Leading reasons Boomers purchase groceries online in the United States in 2023

Grocery store sales in the U.S.
*****bn USD

Average household food expenditure among millennials in the U.S.
*******USD

Average household food at home expenditure among baby boomers in the U.S.
******USD

Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "U.S. generations: grocery shopping behavior" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

- Grocery store perceived most positively by millennials in the U.S.
- *-Eleven
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Detailed statistics
Millennials' favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025
- Grocery store perceived most positively by Generation X in the U.S.
- Aldi
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Detailed statistics
Generation X's favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025
- Grocery store perceived most positively by baby boomers in the U.S.
- Aldi
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Detailed statistics
Baby boomers' favorite grocery stores in the U.S. as of Q1 2025

- Share of Millennials buying groceries online regularly in the U.S.
- **%
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Detailed statistics
Share of regular online grocery shoppers in the U.S. 2025, by generation
- Leading reason Gen Z purchase groceries online in the U.S.
- Saving time
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Detailed statistics
Main reasons Gen Z buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023
- Leading reason Gen X purchase groceries online in the U.S.
- Saving time
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Detailed statistics
Main reasons Gen X buy groceries online in the U.S. 2023

- Market share of millennials in the U.S. sustainable food & non-alcoholic beverage market
- **%
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Detailed statistics
U.S.: Generational share of the overall & sustainable food & drinks market in 2022
- Market share of Generation X in the U.S. sustainable food & non-alcoholic beverage market
- **%
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Detailed statistics
U.S.: Generational share of the sustainable food & drinks market in 2022 and 2027
- Share of millennials concerned about the environmental impact of food in the U.S.
- **%
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Detailed statistics
Concern about the environmental impact of food U.S. 2023, by generation

Further reports

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Millennials & Gen Z in the U.S.: Consumer goods and shopping behavior

Generational grocery shopping behavior in the United Kingdom (UK)

Generational food trends in the United Kingdom (UK)

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Generational grocery shopping behavior in the U.S. - statistics & facts

Key insights

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