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Acosta Reveals Shopper Behavior by Age Group
The Why Behind the Buy report helps retailers adapt to generations' changing habits.
WGB Staff
January 1, 2018
2 Min Read
Acosta shed light on the five distinct generations of shoppers, and their distinct shopping characteristics, in the recently released 14th edition of its The Why Behind the Buy report.
According to Colin Stewart, SVP at Acosta, Gen X is on top for now spending-wise, but millennials will likely take over that spot within the next decade, while Gen Z is also emerging as an influencer in grocery spending.
"As we kick off 2018, it is vital that brands and retailers not only understand what influences each generation’s shopping habits now, but how demand will change as generations move into different phases of life," Stewart said in a news release.
See the breakdown below:
Gen Z: Emerging Influencers (Ages 12-21; Gen Z Shoppers Ages 18-21)
Not being in the working world yet, Gen Z shoppers (18-21) reported spending the least on groceries each month, averaging $269.
Gen Z has never experienced life without the internet and 42% of Gen Z shoppers indicated they use a digital grocery list.
Gen Z and millennial shoppers averaged the most grocery shopping trips each month across generations, with Gen Z making 4.5 routine grocery trips a month.
Millennials: Selective Spenders (Ages 22-36)
Millennial shoppers spend an average of $298 monthly on groceries.
This generation is not yet brand loyal—48% agreed they don’t care which brand they buy, and will switch when they find a better deal.
Sixty percent of millennial shoppers use mobile apps for grocery coupons or discounts, significantly higher than any other generation.
Forty-six percent of millennial shoppers have children under 18 in their household. Millennial parents spend an average of over $100 more per month on groceries than millennials without children.
Gen X: Spending Big & Digital Adapters (Ages 37-52)
Gen X shoppers reported spending the most each month on groceries, averaging $380.
Many Gen X shoppers have embraced digital grocery tools—70% reported redeeming a digital or mobile grocery coupon within the past month.
Two-thirds of Gen X shoppers indicated they enjoys preparing new dishes and 60% agreed they often check out new items in a grocery store.
Boomers: Still Driving Change (Ages 53-71)
While this generation is downsizing, they still spend an average of $314 each month on groceries.
Boomer shoppers are brand loyal, and are buying 82% of the same brands that they bought in the prior year.
These shoppers are also loyal to their grocery stores—93% of boomers reported shopping most often at the same grocery retailer as last year.
Silents: Spending on Groceries (Ages 72 )
Silent shoppers reported spending an average of $287 monthly on groceries, which also reflects the highest household grocery spending per person across all of the generations.
This generation also spends the least amount of their total monthly food budget on eating out.
Silent shoppers focus on value and are big redeemers of coupons, as nine in 10 reported redeeming a paper coupon for a grocery item within the past month.
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