A research survey conducted last fall by King Retail Solutions shows shoppers’ attitudes about why and where they shop for groceries are evolving. According to the study, “Traditional Retail Categories are Blurring,” the top five places to buy groceries that are not grocery stores are Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS and Dollar General. When asked what makes them decide where to buy groceries, survey respondents listed cost first, followed by convenience and quality.
Last month, CVS announced that, starting October 1, it would no longer sell cigarettes and tobacco products in its stores. I knew this was a step in the right direction for consumer health, but I also wondered if it is a sign of more changes on the retail front. According to CVS Caremark’s CEO and president, the move is “the right thing for us to do for our customers and our company to help people on their path to better health.”