The Aesop’s fable “The Tortoise and the Hare” pits the speedy hare against the plodding tortoise in a race of the “Davids versus the Goliaths.” With a slow-and-steady approach, the tortoise emerges as the race’s victor. Although not a children’s story, competition in the supermarket channel has become a “race” as competition for shoppers heats up between brick-and-mortar stores and online options.
Changes in the entire consumer packaged goods (CPG) landscape, particularly with eCommerce and even cashless options, is rocking the landscape. Beginning in 2012, supermarkets began losing leadership share to other multi-outlet (MULO) retailer channels, including supercenters, dollar stores and drug stores, according to Chicago-based Mintel’s July 2018 “Grocery Retailing – US” report.