Supermarkets controlled 89% of all grocery purchases back in 1989, but today they are struggling to maintain 50% of the market as they continue to lose ground to competitors ranging from Wal-Mart and club stores to convenience stores, drug stores and dollar stores.  HealthNewsDigest.com reports that the landscape of the American food shopping experience is changing rapidly and the trend is only getting stronger.

Remember when most food purchases were made during one or two trips a week to large cavernous stores?  Now think about today’s food shopping choices – not only where we buy, but what we buy.  Today’s consumer is likely to use 5 to 7 different consumer packaged goods outlets all of which stock food along with other products. Specialty chains and whole-foods type retailers are also appealing to consumers who, writes HealthNewsDigest, bring their health, social and environmental concerns to market – along with their reusable tote bag.

Another factor is that Americans are cooking less.  Home-prepared meals no longer dominate the family eating schedule. And, if you look in the average American “pantry” will you find any of the so-called “staples” such as flour, sugar, spices, and baking powder?  Many families purchase few of these basic food items, notes HealthNewsDigest, and, in fact, many families store little food at home preferring instead to purchase take-out and semi-prepared foods that can be eaten with little or no preparation.