Declining grocery volumes demand transformation of category management

[Viable Food News Desk]

Publisher: Grocery Dive
Published: September 15, 2026
Source: Read at Grocery Dive
Category: Food Access

Matt Hamory and Marco Di Marino of AlixPartners argue that traditional grocers need to redesign category management as shoppers move away from full shops toward multiple mission-driven trips and more online purchases, resulting in smaller baskets. They say grocers should prioritize traffic over volume and rate, set budgets around priority missions or customer profiles rather than individual categories, and accept that some categories may sell less but more profitably. They also call for larger investments in signature items, categories, departments, or services that draw shoppers. The authors say this strategy may cause an initial decline in topline numbers, but continuing the old model could lead to further volume declines.

Why this matters: Independent grocers may need to focus limited funding on the departments, products, or services that give shoppers a reason to visit, rather than spreading investment evenly across categories. That shift could also change how stores measure success and set category budgets.

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