Pandemic shopping shifts tracked

DETROIT -- Grand Rapids, Mich.-based store chain Meijer is revealing how shopping habits and lifestyles have changed among shoppers more than a year into the pandemic.

Demand for home delivery and pickup services, grab-and-go meals, and the use of self-scanners were among the top trends from the height of shutdowns to overall changes in lifestyle with more people working at home.

Meijer said delivery and pickup services doubled in the past 12 months. To shorten the time spent in stores and to social distance, customers used Meijer's Shop & Scan service more than 100 million times, the retailer said.

"We continue to applaud our store teams that worked diligently throughout the pandemic to find solutions that would help our customers find the products they needed while keeping their families safe. It was a year rife with challenge, and although it's not yet over, we see a light at the end of the tunnel," Peter Whitsett, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing, said in a news release.

There were no surprises with top-selling products. Masks, hand sanitizer and surface cleaners were top sellers throughout 2020, Meijer revealed, as shoppers stocked up on those items to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Meijer trends also revealed a big focus on lifestyle and health trends, with more people staying and working at home. Customers bought more hand weights, decorative pillows and spa-themed candles.

Meijer noted that with local gyms and fitness centers shuttered, the demand for yoga mats, exercise straps, curl bars and hand weights at the start of the pandemic became "hot sellers," resulting in a more than 300% increase.

Rotisserie chickens continue to lead the charge among grab-and-go options. In March, Meijer stores sold more than 500,000 rotisserie chickens.

Thermal curtains and weighted blankets were up 50% year-over-year. Spa-themed candles increased 160%. Disposable dishes, aluminum foil, baking paper, and food storage saw large increases as customers cooked more meals, bread were prepared at home. Fishing pole and gear sales jumped more than 60% as an estimated 9 million new anglers picked up the hobby.

"As communities have begun to reopen, we're continuing to find new ways to be flexible as customers reshape their shopping habits for the warmer weather of a new year," Whitsett said.

Spending more time at home and indoors meant people needed to look for things to do. To avoid boredom and keep busy, customers turned to video game hardware and accessories, board games and puzzles. Meijer also sold more bikes, pools and grills in the last year, they said.

The 24-hour Meijer Express locations saw double-digit growth in firewood and propane sales. Weekly lottery sales and scratch-off lottery climbed 25% at Meijer during the last year.

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