Placer.ai: Grocery visits rise in Q1
Consumers are going to the grocery store more frequently, but spending less time there.
That’s just one takeaway from the new Grocery in 2025: Visitation Trends and Consumer Behavior report from retail analytics firm Placer.ai. During the first quarter of 2025, grocery visits were up by 13.4% compared to the first quarter of 2019, while average visits per location increased 8.4%. However, compared to the start of 2019, dwell time has gradually decreased, hitting 23.6 minutes per store trip in Q1 2025.
Overall, grocery visits have increased compared to 2019 nearly every month since May 2024. January 2025 (3.9%) and April 2025 (4.1%) had the the largest increases in visits compared to first quarter six years ago.
“Shoppers are taking more grocery trips overall each year, but spending less time in-store during each visit,” said Placer.ai. “Operators can respond to this trend by optimizing layouts and promoting “grab-and-go” areas for an even more efficient quick-trip experience.
[READ MORE: Sprouts, Natural Grocers see visits increase to start 2025]
Grocery store visit share varies significantly by region. On the West Coast, in parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Mountain regions, and in Florida and Michigan, grocery stores accounted for the majority of food-at-home visits in the first quarter of 2025. Oregon (61.6%) and Washington (59.6%) led the pack, followed by Massachusetts (59.2%), Vermont (58.5%) and California (57.9%).
Meanwhile, in West Virginia, Arkansas, South Dakota, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Mississippi, less than 30% of food-at-home traffic went to grocery stores, with more shoppers in these regions turning to general mass retailers or discounters.
Another winner of 2025 so far has been small-format grocery stores. Placer.ai found that locations under 30,000 sq. ft., across different chains, outpaced larger stores with a 3.2% year-over-year jump in visits, showing that “bigger isn’t always better” in the grocery store space.
“Shorter trips, busier lifestyles, and changing work routines are reshaping in-store experiences,” said Placer.ai. “And grocery players that refine their store formats, target both lunch and on-the-go shoppers, and adapt to shifting demographics can position themselves to thrive in this competitive sector. As the market continues to evolve, continuous attention to these changing patterns will be key to maintaining and expanding market share.”
