The current state of the food retailing industry is the reflection of the changes in the way Americans eat and obtain food. Today’s eating and shopping behaviors are linked and thrive within the the constraints of modern food culture. This modern food culture influences and arranges when, where, what, and with whom people eat and drink. This in turn is a reflection of critical economic, social and cultural factors shaping America.
Large supermarkets such as Kroger and Walmart are examples of consumers having the ability to become more involved in the nature of food than in past times.These supermarkets build their success around shoppers who come back frequently and buy a lot at one time. If you’ve seen one Kroger you’ve basically seen them all. In The Double Binds of Getting Food among the Poor in Rural Oregon, the author states that previously held habits of a person’s upbringing create a conflict in what people feel like they should be doing and what they actually do. The familiarity and comfort that big supermarkets provide is almost impossible to ignore as a reason people continue to shop there instead of using alternative food sources.
Because of the wide variety of food offered and the ability to make those foods the same every time, consumers now expect more from their food and from the handful of companies providing it. There are a plethora of ready-made and processed foods available throughout the long supermarket aisles. The more consumers become enamored with these new foods they’re eating, the less involved they will become in cooking it. According to Melanie Warner of Pandora’s Lunchbox, making the decision to cook instead of falling victim to the traps of the processed food industry is one of the first steps in creating a healthier lifestyle.. In addition, household meals have become more democratic when it comes to decisions involving food consumption. Long gone are the days when the family ate and cooked whatever the men of the house could hunt and whatever the women could prepare with limited resources. With the availability of variety comes the availability of choice. People now come to the grocery stores with long lists of different foods with items for individual people in their family. Shoppers are taking advantage of a diverse food retail landscape created to meet their food needs-and wants.
In checkout lanes shoppers shuffle through quickly, maybe even skipping employee interaction completely by choosing to use the self-checkout technology available. Store employees are not heavily invested in the process. They might exchange pleasantries with shoppers but unless questions are asked, interaction is limited. This makes food exchange a solo event and takes away from the previously held idea of food being a communal event.
Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan is one of the oldest and largest year-round markets in the United States. Farmer’s markets allow people to buy fresher produce while supporting the local economy and farmers. The reestablishment of markets across the country is an American success story of renewal. They offer a glimmer of hope for a healthier America.
The months of June through September, the market is open three days a week but throughout the rest of the year it is only open once a week on Saturday mornings from seven in the morning until four in the afternoon. By having specific times, this makes shopping at farmers markets a social event for communities. If people are primarily buying their produce from farmer’s markets, food shopping will become a weekly event. This in turn creates repeated social interactions between consumer and producer. The trade off for shopping at farmer’s markets is that customers don’t get the convenience of one-stop shopping like they do with bigger markets, and they pay a little more for their products.
Whole Foods Market is the largest natural foods grocer in the United States. Whole Foods stores don’t stock products with artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. They offer as much organic produce as possible and only sell meat and seafood that are free of chemicals and hormones. Aesthetics is a big part of the Whole Foods shopping experience. In The American Way of Eating, the author talks about the idea of only the affluent and educated caring about the foods they eat and eating healthier as a result. Because of its higher quality and exotic nature, the food is more expensive than what you would find at a typical grocery store, which is a deterrent for those who might want to eat healthier but can’t afford it. Shopping at Whole Foods is a sensory experience. There are food samplings offered throughout the store and areas where customers can see where food is prepared. For people who do shop there regularly, they recognize the higher quality of each item and are willing to pay the extra money.
The majority of people who shop at Whole Foods Market appear to be upper-middle class Caucasians within the 18-30-year-old demographic. They cater to people who are more health or fit conscious with the desire to reflect their lifestyle in the foods they buy and the places they shop. Whole Foods offers a variety of fresh ingredients in bulk so people can buy as little or as much as they need. Walking into Whole Foods, the atmosphere appears to be cohesive. The employees portray an attitude of genuine happiness about their jobs, oftentimes fitting in with the demographic of the shoppers, and are quick and eager to answer questions customers have while giving suggestions for other products. Whole Foods Market maintains the atmosphere of being passionate about helping their customers eat well. This is the store that people want to shop at if they can afford to do so.
For decades, the traditional American supermarket has been at the forefront as the primary destination for where the average citizen does their grocery shopping. However due to an increasing shift in shopping preferences, industries such as Whole Foods and fresh farmer’s markets have begun to gain interest from customers seeking more natural and organic foods. The appeal of large supermarkets stem from the ability to do a lot of shopping at one time in a quick and efficient manner. Smaller shopping areas such as Whole Foods and farmer’s markets offer shoppers an experience. They are more likely to stay long longer at these places and the experience is more likely to have a more lasting and beneficial impact.
Large supermarkets such as Kroger and Walmart are examples of consumers having the ability to become more involved in the nature of food than in past times.These supermarkets build their success around shoppers who come back frequently and buy a lot at one time. If you’ve seen one Kroger you’ve basically seen them all. In The Double Binds of Getting Food among the Poor in Rural Oregon, the author states that previously held habits of a person’s upbringing create a conflict in what people feel like they should be doing and what they actually do. The familiarity and comfort that big supermarkets provide is almost impossible to ignore as a reason people continue to shop there instead of using alternative food sources.
Because of the wide variety of food offered and the ability to make those foods the same every time, consumers now expect more from their food and from the handful of companies providing it. There are a plethora of ready-made and processed foods available throughout the long supermarket aisles. The more consumers become enamored with these new foods they’re eating, the less involved they will become in cooking it. According to Melanie Warner of Pandora’s Lunchbox, making the decision to cook instead of falling victim to the traps of the processed food industry is one of the first steps in creating a healthier lifestyle.. In addition, household meals have become more democratic when it comes to decisions involving food consumption. Long gone are the days when the family ate and cooked whatever the men of the house could hunt and whatever the women could prepare with limited resources. With the availability of variety comes the availability of choice. People now come to the grocery stores with long lists of different foods with items for individual people in their family. Shoppers are taking advantage of a diverse food retail landscape created to meet their food needs-and wants.
In checkout lanes shoppers shuffle through quickly, maybe even skipping employee interaction completely by choosing to use the self-checkout technology available. Store employees are not heavily invested in the process. They might exchange pleasantries with shoppers but unless questions are asked, interaction is limited. This makes food exchange a solo event and takes away from the previously held idea of food being a communal event.
Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan is one of the oldest and largest year-round markets in the United States. Farmer’s markets allow people to buy fresher produce while supporting the local economy and farmers. The reestablishment of markets across the country is an American success story of renewal. They offer a glimmer of hope for a healthier America.
The months of June through September, the market is open three days a week but throughout the rest of the year it is only open once a week on Saturday mornings from seven in the morning until four in the afternoon. By having specific times, this makes shopping at farmers markets a social event for communities. If people are primarily buying their produce from farmer’s markets, food shopping will become a weekly event. This in turn creates repeated social interactions between consumer and producer. The trade off for shopping at farmer’s markets is that customers don’t get the convenience of one-stop shopping like they do with bigger markets, and they pay a little more for their products.
Whole Foods Market is the largest natural foods grocer in the United States. Whole Foods stores don’t stock products with artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. They offer as much organic produce as possible and only sell meat and seafood that are free of chemicals and hormones. Aesthetics is a big part of the Whole Foods shopping experience. In The American Way of Eating, the author talks about the idea of only the affluent and educated caring about the foods they eat and eating healthier as a result. Because of its higher quality and exotic nature, the food is more expensive than what you would find at a typical grocery store, which is a deterrent for those who might want to eat healthier but can’t afford it. Shopping at Whole Foods is a sensory experience. There are food samplings offered throughout the store and areas where customers can see where food is prepared. For people who do shop there regularly, they recognize the higher quality of each item and are willing to pay the extra money.
The majority of people who shop at Whole Foods Market appear to be upper-middle class Caucasians within the 18-30-year-old demographic. They cater to people who are more health or fit conscious with the desire to reflect their lifestyle in the foods they buy and the places they shop. Whole Foods offers a variety of fresh ingredients in bulk so people can buy as little or as much as they need. Walking into Whole Foods, the atmosphere appears to be cohesive. The employees portray an attitude of genuine happiness about their jobs, oftentimes fitting in with the demographic of the shoppers, and are quick and eager to answer questions customers have while giving suggestions for other products. Whole Foods Market maintains the atmosphere of being passionate about helping their customers eat well. This is the store that people want to shop at if they can afford to do so.
For decades, the traditional American supermarket has been at the forefront as the primary destination for where the average citizen does their grocery shopping. However due to an increasing shift in shopping preferences, industries such as Whole Foods and fresh farmer’s markets have begun to gain interest from customers seeking more natural and organic foods. The appeal of large supermarkets stem from the ability to do a lot of shopping at one time in a quick and efficient manner. Smaller shopping areas such as Whole Foods and farmer’s markets offer shoppers an experience. They are more likely to stay long longer at these places and the experience is more likely to have a more lasting and beneficial impact.