Despite a variety of digital rivals, the brick-and-mortar grocery sector has yet to be seriously disrupted by online competition. Only 12% of US grocery shoppers bought their groceries online in 2016, according to a March 2017 report from Cowen and Company.
The report found that two-thirds of US internet users surveyed between January and December 2016 preferred shopping in-store to online. And more than half of respondents said being able to inspect food was a reason they would rather visit a physical grocery store.

In addition, 16% said they had never bought groceries online because they needed groceries at the last minute.