Top 6 E‑Commerce Food Trends To Watch in 2024

The online food and beverage industry is booming, with sales expected to soar past $47 billion by 2025. However, success in this industry is not just about throwing up an e‑commerce website online and hoping for the best. 

Today’s savvy food shoppers demand more. They have high expectations, such as fast deliveries, personalized recommendations, or a seamless shopping experience across all their devices.

To rise to this challenge, businesses are increasingly turning to custom ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions. These powerful tools provide the flexibility, scalability, and integration capabilities needed to create a holistic online grocery experience that meets modern consumers’ demands.

In this article, we’ll explore the top e‑commerce food trends shaping the industry in 2024 and highlight how custom ERP software empowers businesses to keep up with and exceed customers’ expectations.

1. Fast & Flexible Delivery: Catering to the On-Demand Lifestyle with Efficient Logistics

Gone are the days of weekly grocery hauls and long checkout lines. Today’s consumers want efficiency and flexibility when it comes to their food shopping. 

Same-day delivery, curated subscription boxes, and a variety of delivery options aren’t just perks anymore – they’re the new normal. 

Meeting (and exceeding) customer expectations for speed and convenience can translate to increased loyalty, repeat business, and, ultimately, a healthier bottom line.

A modern butcher shop, powered by a custom ERP solution, provides a prime example of this trend by offering:

• Delivery: This is for those who prefer the convenience of doorstep delivery.
• Shipping: An option for customers outside their local delivery area.
• In-store pickup: A convenient choice for locals who want to grab their order on schedule.

How to Achieve This:

• Partner with Delivery Services. Consider partnering with established delivery services or creating your own to offer same-day or next-day options.
• Subscription Options. Explore meal kits, curated boxes, or recurring essentials deliveries to provide convenience and personalization.
• In-Store/Curbside Pickup. Implement a streamlined pickup system with designated parking or a dedicated area for easy order retrieval.
• Transparent Communication. Display delivery options, timelines, and fees throughout your online store.
• Real-Time Tracking. Customers should be able to track their orders in real-time, providing transparency and peace of mind.

2. Ethical & Transparent Sourcing: Building Trust Through Transparency With Data Harmonization

Modern consumers are increasingly interested in the origins of their food and the ethics behind its production. E‑commerce platforms must be transparent about their sourcing practices, providing comprehensive details on ingredients, sustainability efforts, and ethical considerations.

Custom ERP solutions can be vital in fostering this transparency through data harmonization. By centralizing and standardizing product information across all channels, businesses can ensure accuracy and provide customers with the information they need to make informed choices.

How to Achieve This:

• Detailed Product Information. Provide comprehensive details about ingredients, origins, certifications (e.g., organic, fair trade), and production methods through clear e‑commerce catalogues.
• Supplier Stories. Share stories and information about your suppliers, highlighting their sustainable practices.
• Sustainability Reports. Regularly publish reports on your company’s environmental and social impact initiatives.
• Interactive Content. Use quizzes, videos, or infographics to educate customers about your sourcing practices in an engaging way.
• Certifications and Badges. Prominently display organic, non-GMO, or fair trade certifications to build trust.

3. Personalization: Crafting Unique Shopping Experiences With Omnichannel Solutions

The days of generic product recommendations are long gone. Personalization has become the leading food and beverage e‑commerce trend, and for good reason. By offering tailored product suggestions, customized meal plans, and personalized offers, platforms can cater to individual preferences and create a more engaging and satisfying shopping experience.

A key enabler of personalization is the ability to deliver a seamless and consistent experience across all channels – web, mobile, social media, and even in-store. This is where omnichannel solutions, powered by robust ERP software, come into play. Customers can shop wherever and however they prefer and even switch between channels mid-transaction without any disruption.

Food delivery platforms can excel at personalization by leveraging customer data. By analyzing user behaviour, order history, and location, these platforms can provide tailored recommendations that improve the user experience and increase the likelihood of repeat orders.

For instance, a platform might suggest restaurants near a user’s location with dishes they’ve previously enjoyed or those that align with their dietary preferences, allowing them to add their favourite meals to their cart with a single click.

How to Achieve This:

• Omnichannel Data Collection. Implement an omnichannel solution to gather customer data across various touch points. This allows you to create a complete picture of each customer’s preferences and behaviours.
• Personalized Recommendations. Analyze customer data and provide personalized product suggestions, meal plans, and offers.
• Customer Profiles. Allow customers to create profiles and set preferences for a more tailored experience.
• Targeted Marketing. Use email marketing and other channels to send personalized offers and promotions based on customer data.
• Loyalty Programs. Reward repeat customers with exclusive discounts and benefits to foster long-term relationships.

By combining omnichannel data collection with personalization, you can create a truly unique shopping experience for each customer, driving engagement and loyalty.

4. Mobile-First Shopping: Optimizing for the Smartphone Generation

With most online traffic now coming from mobile devices, optimizing the smartphone shopping experience is paramount. A seamless mobile browsing and checkout process is essential to capturing and retaining mobile shoppers. 

Some online food retailers are strongly committed to mobile-first design. Their websites are fully responsive, adapting seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices.

Straightforward navigation, prominent calls to action, and a simplified checkout process make it easy for customers to browse and buy products on their smartphones, ensuring a positive user experience.

PRO TIP: To create a seamless shopping experience, explore our in-depth guides on the best e‑commerce checkout practices and optimizing the e‑commerce conversion rate.

How to Achieve This:

• Responsive Design. Ensure your website automatically adjusts to fit any screen size, providing a consistent experience across devices.
• Fast Loading Times. Optimize images and code to minimize loading times, as slow-loading sites can lead to frustrated customers and lost sales.
• Streamlined Navigation. Simplify your navigation menu for mobile users, making it easy to find products and information.
• Thumb-Friendly Design. Place buttons and links in easy-to-reach areas for users to navigate with their thumbs.
• Mobile Checkout. Optimize the checkout process for mobile, with options like mobile wallets and simplified forms.
• Regular Testing. Test your website on various mobile devices and operating systems to ensure a seamless experience.

5. Cross-Selling & Upselling: Maximizing Each Transaction With Targeted Promotions

Cross-selling (suggesting complementary products) and upselling (encouraging the purchase of a higher-priced item) are proven strategies for increasing average order value and enhancing the overall customer experience. 

Effective cross-selling and upselling often use targeted promotions and personalized recommendations to entice customers to add more to their carts.

For example, restaurants can use cross-selling by offering “’Perfect Together” combos, pairing their most popular dishes with complementary sides or desserts. This encourages customers to try new combinations and add more to their cart.

This way, they boost sales and introduce customers to a broader range of flavours on their menu.

How to Achieve This:

• Product Bundling. A custom ERP can help you efficiently manage and track bundled product inventory, ensuring you have the right combinations available to offer customers.
• Personalized Recommendations. Use customer data and browsing behaviour to suggest items that pair well with those in the customer’s cart.
• Product-Based Retail Media Ads. Show relevant products with eye-catching ads that link directly to product pages, making it easy for shoppers to add items to their carts.
• Targeted Advertising. Integrate ads on your website or into your mobile app to promote specific products or recipes, driving purchases and increasing brand awareness.
• Limited-Time Offers. Use your custom ERP to easily create and manage time-sensitive promotions and discounts on bundled items.
• Clear Display. Present cross-sell and upsell options on product pages and during the checkout process.

Running a restaurant? Learn how an online restaurant management system can help you grow your business!

6. The Experiential Element: Interactive Content for the Engaged Consumer

E‑commerce food platforms are enhancing customer engagement by going beyond simple transactions. Today’s online shoppers want more than just convenience – they crave experiences that educate, entertain, and foster a sense of community.

For example, a family-owned natural food store has successfully fostered a loyal community by hosting in-person events and seminars focused on health, wellness, and food education. These events provide valuable information and create a sense of connection with the brand, driving customer engagement and loyalty.

This experiential approach deepens customer engagement, builds brand loyalty, and reinforces the brand’s position as a trusted source for health-conscious consumers.

How to Achieve This:

Creating memorable experiences for your online customers doesn’t have to be complex. Here are a few ideas:

• Virtual Events. Host online cooking classes, product demonstrations, or Q&A sessions with experts.
• Interactive Content. Create quizzes, polls, or surveys to engage customers and gather valuable feedback.
• Behind-the-Scenes Access. Share photos and videos showcasing your company culture, production process, or team members.
• Customer Testimonials. Feature stories and reviews from satisfied customers to build trust and social proof.
• Loyalty Programs. Reward repeat customers with exclusive discounts, early access to sales, or special events.

Concise Studio: Building Custom ERP Software for Produce Stores and Food Retailers

The e‑commerce food trends we’ve discussed are not just theoretical concepts. Forward-thinking businesses in the food and beverage industry are already implementing them successfully. 

Concise Studio developed Local Express, an online marketplace that connects consumers with local grocery stores and thrives on many key e‑commerce food trends.

When the client presented its vision to our team, we recognized the complexity of the project. That’s why we adopted a full-cycle development approach, from design to deployment and beyond.

Design and Development

Our team of experts designed and developed a comprehensive e‑commerce platform. The process included creating separate interfaces for shoppers and store owners, emphasizing features that simplify the complex world of online grocery shopping.

For shoppers, we focused on features that make browsing and buying a breeze, such as product favourites and lists, saved payment methods, and fast, secure checkout.

For store owners, we prioritized streamlining their backend operations. A core component of this was robust inventory management, allowing for bulk product uploads, real-time stock tracking, and automated reordering processes. This helps stores efficiently manage their stock levels, reduce waste, and ensure popular items are always available for their customers.

In addition to inventory management, store owners also benefit from customizable online storefronts, sales, and discount management tools, giving them full control over their online brand presence and marketing strategies.

We created the Local Express platform to be fully responsive, adapting to different screen sizes and devices, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience for users on the go.

In addition, the platform includes seamless integrations with various POS, payment, and delivery services, further improving efficiency and providing a flexible solution for businesses of all sizes.

For the technology stack we used and features we developed, check out the Local Express project page.

Setting Local Express for Success

A successful e‑commerce launch is just the beginning. Concise Studio worked closely with the client to ensure they entered the market smoothly and had the tools and support to flourish in those critical early months. Our team’s support helped them confidently navigate the launch process and establish a strong foundation for future growth.

The Future of Food: Emerging Technologies to Watch

As technology continues to evolve, so does the e‑commerce food landscape. While the trends mentioned earlier are already shaping the industry, several emerging technologies will further transform how we buy and consume food online.

• AI-Powered Efficiency. AI is making online grocery shopping smarter, faster, and more personalized than ever before. By analyzing vast amounts of customer data, AI-powered tools can personalize product recommendations, predict demand fluctuations, and streamline inventory management. This leads to a more efficient supply chain, reduced waste, and a shopping experience tailored to each individual customer’s needs.
• AR/VR Shopping. Augmented reality and virtual reality technologies are already transforming retail experiences across various sectors. Supermarkets are also getting in on the action, with Tesco and Walmart already using AR technology. As these technologies become more sophisticated and accessible, it’s only a matter of time before they revolutionize the e‑commerce food industry as well.
• Hyperlocal Delivery. Hyperlocal delivery, supported by micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs) in urban areas, is emerging as a game-changer for food e‑commerce. MFCs are small-scale warehouses strategically located closer to customers, enabling businesses to offer ultra-fast delivery, sometimes within minutes of placing an order. Amazon Fresh, for example, leverages MFCs to store fresh produce and other groceries, offering customers same-day or even two-hour delivery in selected locations.
• Voice Commerce. Voice-activated shopping assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home are becoming more integrated into our daily lives. Soon, ordering groceries could be as simple as saying, “Alexa, add milk to my shopping cart.”

Embrace E‑commerce Food Trends with Concise Studio

The future of food e‑commerce is bright. By understanding and embracing these e-commerce food trends, your business can tap into new markets, boost customer loyalty, and drive sustainable growth.

Concise Studio is ready to partner with you to create a cutting-edge e‑commerce solution or a B2B e‑commerce platform that meets and exceeds your customers’ expectations.