New Dalhousie study reveals Canadians’ grocery shopping habits are changing

A new survey suggests most grocery shoppers spend 32 minutes per visit and they approve of those automated self-checkout lanes. Lead investigator and professor Sylvain Charlebois says the Dalhousie University study underscores that the "worst part" of shopping for many consumers is waiting for a cashier. The management professor says he was surprised shoppers spent such little time and shopped only 1.3 times a week. He adds shoppers seem to like variety, with the average Canadian regularly visiting at least two different stores.  The study also suggests self-checkouts are popular, with 25 per cent of shoppers "strongly agreeing" and over 29 per cent "somewhat agreeing" that they are a good idea. Another 20 per cent were indifferent. The Grocery Experience National Survey Report took place over three days in October and surveyed a controlled sample of 1,053 people online in both English and French. The margin of error is 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Guest: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Professor, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University

A new survey suggests most grocery shoppers spend 32 minutes per visit and they approve of those automated self-checkout lanes. Lead investigator and professor Sylvain Charlebois says the Dalhousie University study underscores that the "worst part" of shopping for many consumers is waiting for a cashier. The management professor says he was surprised shoppers spent such little time and shopped only 1.3 times a week. He adds shoppers seem to like variety, with the average Canadian regularly visiting at least two different stores.  The study also suggests self-checkouts are popular, with 25 per cent of shoppers "strongly agreeing" and over 29 per cent "somewhat agreeing" that they are a good idea. Another 20 per cent were indifferent. The Grocery Experience National Survey Report took place over three days in October and surveyed a controlled sample of 1,053 people online in both English and French. The margin of error is 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Guest: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Professor, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University