Grocery traffic is rising, with data from research firm Placer.ai showing that consumers are making more frequent visits with shorter dwell times, “signaling a shift toward more frequent, mission-driven trips rather than larger, consolidated baskets,” the company said. Sub-15-minute visits saw particularly big boosts according to the report. As of 2025, visits under 15 minutes made up over 40% of grocery visits nationwide—up from 37.9% of visits in 2022.

Shoppers are also reportedly splitting their grocery lists across retailers, and make more targeted visits based on price, promotion or specific product needs, with low- and medium-income households driving the trend, said Placer.ai.

Grocery chain Kroger saw increased traffic at the end of 2025, closing out the year with an average 2.3% year-over-year (YoY) overall traffic growth for the fourth quarter of 2025 and a 2.8% YoY increase in visits per venue across its 20+ banners. For the full year 2025, the company's overall traffic as well as average visits per venue increased 1.0% YoY, Placer.ai said.

“As shorter, targeted visits become a structural driver of grocery traffic, Kroger’s scale, private-label strength and data-driven promotions position it well—but sustained growth will hinge on converting higher traffic into profitable share-of-list gains,” the research fim said.

In February, Walmart reported strong sales growth for Q4 2025, citing increased sales in its grocery section. The retailer said consumers continue to spend cautiously, particularly low-income shoppers. Walmart’s profit margins grew mainly due to grocery sales, and membership through its Walmart Plus program and advertising sales. But that growth was “offset by slower sales growth in general merchandise, a dynamic that reflects shoppers prioritizing their spending needs,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

In other grocery news, Kroger is going head-to-head with one of the nation’s other largest grocery chains, Florida-based Publix, on its home turf in the Cincinnati area. According to The Wall Street Journal, Publix plans to open a dozen locations in Kentucky by the end of the year, adding to its existing 1,400-store footprint.

Kroger, which operates 2,700 stores, “dropped prices at its northern Kentucky stores when Publix moved in and opened a refurbished supermarket in the area last fall. In its hunt for growth, Kroger wants to open more stores in Publix’s home state, including in Jacksonville,” WSJ said.

“The battle illustrates the potential risks and rewards of spending millions on real estate and new operations to win over shoppers. Kroger and Publix aren’t just competing with each other; they’re facing the likes of national retailers including Walmart and other regional outposts for food,” the news outlet added.

Meanwhile, WSJ also reported that Aldi has plans to open 180 new U.S. stores this year, rapidly expanding into Colorado and Arizona, putting pressure on Albertsons’s Safeway stores. Sprouts Farmers Market is expanding its presence in Whole Foods Market’s hometown of Austin, Texas. Whole Foods has been trying to grow in the Northeast.