Most dollar store chains have been increasing their grocery offerings in the past few years in the hope of stealing shoppers away from supermarkets and the move seems to be paying off. Supermarket News reports that the percentage of shoppers who have bought groceries at dollar stores has grown three percentage points in the last 12 months, to 35 percent from 32 percent.
During the same period, the percentage of shoppers who bought groceries at traditional grocery stores fell from 92 percent to 91 percent and the percentage of shoppers who bought groceries at mass merchandising stores like Wal-Mart and Target fell from 76 percent to 73 percent.
The study, conducted by Perception Research Services International, included 1,500 shoppers of at least 18 years of age.