Gen Z Turns to Bulk Buying

Young shoppers, including members of Gen Z and younger Millennials, are turning to bulk grocery purchases to keep food costs down, reports The Wall Street Journal. These shoppers are often splitting food costs with friends, roommates, family, and neighbors.

A June survey from market research firm Advantage Solutions contends that roughly 40 percent of shoppers between the ages of 25 and 34 split more bulk groceries with others, compared to the approximately 33 percent of consumers across all age groups that shop in this way. This indicates that the younger generation is seeking cost-saving measures by tapping their communities.

A spokesperson for Sam’s Club said that Gen Z shoppers represent the fastest-growing member group at Sam’s Club, Walmart’s club format. Memberships for shoppers 27 and under rose 63 percent over the past two fiscal years.

The growth is due in part to Gen Z shoppers entering adulthood while being drawn to lower per-unit food costs, said senior equity research analyst for financial services firm Oppenheimer, Rupesh Parikh.

Despite food prices cooling from their 2022 and 2023 peaks, costs for consumers are still high. Agriculture Department data found that Americans still spend, on average, 11.2 percent of their disposable income on food, a three-decade peak. Full Story (Subscription Required)