The second week of March showed no improvement over the previous week, with independent grocers reporting their same store sales were down 4.43% in week two. Customer counts were down 2.61%.
In the latest Consumer Confidence Survey, results showed that consumer confidence is as high as it’s been since 2000. Between then and now there were two recessions and recoveries, so being at the highest level since then is impressive. With so much good economic news such as low unemployment, improved GDP, high consumer confidence, it’s frustrating that same store grocery sales can’t get a share of some of that positivity. Consumers have more choice than ever now with big companies like Amazon and Walmart expanding their online grocery presence, mealkit services like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh delivering to more customers, and hard discounters like Aldi and Lidl growing the number of locations in the US.
Preliminary results from the 2018 Independent Grocers Financial Survey suggest that more independents are engaging or plan to engage in e-commerce in the future. It’s hard to argue against the convenience it provides some shoppers. But a recent survey from richrelevance.com shows that when it comes to fresh items like meat and produce, shoppers are less trustworthy of someone else picking the best the store has to offer. This opens the window for independents without a full-service e-commerce platform to emphasize fresh options – items that as of right now, consumers don’t trust other folks to pick out for them.
Same Store Sales
% Change from last year
Same Store Sales – Previous Months
2018 FMS Financial Symposium
April 24-26 - Register Today
FMS is hosting the second annual Financial Symposium in the Spring of 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This years’ conference will focus on two primary objectives. The first is to deliver informative content from industry professionals to help you improve sales, increase margins, and be better prepared for potential changes in the tax and healthcare systems. These sessions aren’t sales pitches - they present economic analysis and industry best practices that matter most to independent retailers.
The second objective is to have several FMS staff on hand to get you up to speed on the latest updates and services designed keep you informed on your store’s performance and increase its efficiency. Training sessions will be available to FMS customers.
This is a great opportunity for you to hear from industry experts on topics that matter most to you, network with fellow independents, and learn what’s new with FMS and how we can help your business succeed.