Survey Reveals Customers are Unhappy With Grocery Store Service

Empathica’s 2011 Consumer Insights Panel survey showed that checkout lanes and lines, selection of fresh products, and overall customer service top the list of frustrations that "never" meet consumer expectations.

Empathica Inc., a leading provider of Customer Experience Management (CEM) solutions to some of the world’s most respected brands, announced the results of its 2011 Consumer Insights Panel survey of more than 16,000 consumers in the U.S. and Canada.

The survey revealed that while an overwhelming 97% of consumers reported that they value good customer service at a grocery store, 44% said that today’s grocery stores aren’t delivering on that expectation.

Brian Jones, vice president of Grocery and Consumer Packaged Goods at Empathica, said:

"It’s important for grocery stores and supermarkets to focus on developing excellent customer experiences today. Supermarket chains, in particular, often maintain similar prices and offerings. Experiences are what differentiate one retailer from the next. Understanding the key elements of the experience that drive loyalty can give a supermarket the edge, enabling them to build out better offerings."

The Empathica Consumer Insights Panel specifically looked at what consumers value in their grocery experience and how those expectations are being met by grocery stores across Canada and the U.S. Consumers indicated the in-store grocery store qualities that continue to disappoint and "never" or "only sometimes" meet their expectations include the following:

1. Checkout lanes and lines (55.9%)

2. Customer Service (44.1%)

3. Selection of fresh meats (42.2%)

4. Selection of fruits and vegetables (42.1%)

5. Selection of fresh seafood (41.7%)

6. Modern updated stores (41.5%)

While grocers as a whole have their challenges in delivering an optimal customer experience, the research showed that when asked specifically about their grocer of choice, consumers for the most part are being better satisfied as more than half of respondents (57%) indicated their primary grocer is increasingly making active attempts to cater to their needs.

"The research shows that consumers choose to frequent grocers that are actively tending to their needs. Consumers responded in multiple ways to say that they value the initiatives retailers have taken to make their product and service levels tailored and relevant to them. This is certainly a positive for those grocers that have invested heavily in customer-centric practices." Mr. Jones added.

The survey also showed that delivering an excellent grocery experience is increasingly important for word-of-mouth marketing. Nearly three-quarters of consumers said they would promote a grocery store or share positive experiences with others if they had a great experience. Seventy-two percent of women and 66% of men indicated they would make a recommendation if they had a great experience.

How Men and Women Differ In Their Grocery Expectations

Men and women differ in their actions and expectations of grocery experiences in other ways as well.

The study found that while having knowledgeable employees is the most significant factor contributing to a great grocery experience, women valued this slightly more than men. Seventy-two percent of women and 65% of men feel it’s ‘very important’ for employees to be knowledgeable about the products they sell. Likewise, 69% of women feel that having employees available to answer questions is a very important aspect of the shopping experience. Fewer men (59%) consider it very important.

Mr. Jones continued:

"Employees should understand that consumers have different expectations for service,”said Jones. If grocery stores are going to deliver more personalized service, they need to be equipped with an understanding of the products they are selling, not just knowing how to direct customers to find and buy them efficiently. This is particularly important in serving women customers, based on our survey results.

"It can be a challenge for grocers to manage an environment that has a distinct fault line across age, gender and other characteristics like loyalty. Some consumers may demand engagement and new experiences at grocery stores, while those who have been loyal for years often resist change. Grocers must consider all demographics by having regular contact with customers and obtaining feedback directly."

Furthermore, the survey showed that 23% of women indicated an easy-to-use website is very important, while only 17% of men feel the same. Similarly, 14% of women and only 11% of men believe that information kiosks – offering product information, coupons and recipes – are very important.

About the Empathica Consumer Insights Panel

The Empathica Consumer Insights serves as an authoritative voice on consumer based economic indicators; the retail, financial services and restaurant industries; consumer shopping intentions and customer satisfaction as reported by thousands of consumers in the U.S. and Canada. Results from Empathica’s Consumer Insights, led by Dr. Gary Edwards and Empathica’s Consumer Insights’ team, are published several times a year. The results are based on outbound Internet surveys with Empathica’s growing Insights Panel, derived from more than 30 million consumer surveys per year. Results have been weighted to reflect latest Census distributions in the U.S. and in Canada, including Region, Gender, Age and Income. Aforementioned data is reported by the Empathica Consumer Insights Panel – Wave 1, Issue 2 2011.
Info: http://www.empathica.com/insights/.

About Empathica

Empathica provides Customer Experience Management programs to more than 200 of the world's leading brands, ranging from multi-unit retailers, to banks and restaurants. Its rich analysis of survey data using state-of-the-art surveying and dashboard reporting software allows for performance-improvement solutions, evidence-based marketing insights, and customer experience management consulting. Annually, Empathica's 30 million customer surveys in 25 languages reach more than 70,000 locations. A privately-held organization, Empathica is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and also has an office in Birmingham, England. Info: http://www.empathica.com.  
 

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