Grocery stores are integral to how we shop for produce and other food items today. In our conversations with grocers and grocery ISVs, there are a lot of questions around WIC that come up and the payment technology implications around. While we do talk a lot about retail and grocery-related topics on our blog, we wanted to explore WIC and help provide some information that can be helpful.
More than any other retail establishment, the Food and Drug merchants are at the heartbeat of our culture. These grocery stores and pharmacies play an important role in shaping what we do with our time and how we interact with others around meals, events, celebrations, etc. Whether it is people buying produce to cook a meal for their family & friends or picking up prescription medication for their needs, these retail stores are essential to our lives.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and do business. Rather than going to grocery stores in person to buy our weekly produce, many of us have rushed to eCommerce sites to book time for delivery or curbside pickup. According to the Food Retailing Industry report from FMI, food retailers saw their online sales jump more than 300% on an average in the first few months of the pandemic. The post-COVID world will still see consumers opting for delivery and curbside pickup options when they purchase their groceries online. What many grocers may not realize that they are leaving money on the table with these card-not-present (CNP) transactions. This is where the difference between card-present (CP) and CNP transactions comes into play.
2020 was a tumultuous year for grocers. While they were one of the few essential businesses that were open during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in the US, it took a while before their in-store foot traffic bounced back. The Health and safety of the shoppers and store staff is of prime importance, but grocers shouldn’t overlook the health and safety of their data. While the foot traffic to a store may seem significantly low – the need for security solutions is still urgent.
Holidays are notoriously busy times for grocery stores. Grocers prepare months ahead of time for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and the Fourth, as they will be packed for days, or even weeks, before the actual holiday. Knowing how to anticipate and meet your customers’ needs will make the difference between a successful holiday season and a lackluster one.
