FROM: Administrative Assistant, Harvest Grocery
TO: Arjun Patel
DATE: March 13. 2019
RE: TRENDS IN THE GROCERY INDUSTRY
Introduction
This report is a follow-up to your instructions about how the consumer tastes and
innovations in the grocery stores are changing.
The understanding of these changes is important
in shaping the direction that Harvest Grocery should take to improve its image and place itself in
good position to effectively compete at the Canadian Federation for Independent Grocers (CFIG)
in the coming year. The report has been compiled after research that looked at various sources
included published journals and news article on the subject. In particular, the report looks at
going local, smart shopping and sustainability as the key trends in the grocery industry. The
report recommends that the Harvest Grocery should consider greater connectivity with local
supply chains as a competitive strategy.
Going Local
One of the imaging trends in the grocery industry is the rise in the number of stores
focusing on their connections with the local supply chains. It involves sourcing a great number of
products from local suppliers and farmers. Askew (2017) notes that part of the reason for this
shift, has been the realization that while consumptions habits are influenced by global trends,
expectations for food products remains local. For instance, while people may understand the
benefits of eating organic food products, they will still hope to eat fruits and vegetables grown in
regions. Besides, there is an ethical perspective to the trend, which involves reduction of food
waste. This is because the suppliers cover less distance to the stores, and arrive at the destination
while they are still fresh (Dumont, 2018). Longer distances travelled may expose the products to
adverse elements, while leads to deterioration. Besides, it is a matter of treating local suppliers
fairly, by giving them opportunities to do business. These opportunities are denied when the
