US Quick E-Commerce (Quick Commerce) Market Trends

• Quick Grocery Taking Share from Traditional Channels: One major ongoing trend is the rapid shift of grocery shopping towards Quick Commerce channels providing greater convenience. Traditional grocery stores with long lines and restricted hours are losing share to apps enabling effortless shopping and 15-minute delivery. According to surveys, nearly 60% of consumers have purchased groceries online for rapid fulfillment, signaling the growth of quick grocery commerce. Areas like produce, dairy and fresh foods are shifting online due to convenience. The pandemic has also accelerated adoption of quick grocery services out of safety concerns. According to the latest quarterly report published by the US Census Bureau in December 2022, e-commerce sales as a percentage of total retail sales jumped to 14.3% in the third quarter from 13.0% in the previous quarter.
• Specialized Local Retail Partnerships Emerging: Quick Commerce firms have recognized the value of partnerships with local neighborhood stores, enabling hyper-local goods to be rapidly delivered while also benefitting retail partners through increased digital reach. Small local stores provide specialized products from food to pharmacy goods that appeal to customers seeking variety. Partnerships allow Quick Commerce platforms to expand inventories without overhead. For mom-and-pop stores struggling with foot traffic losses, such partnerships provide a lifeline while serving their community. This growing local retail-delivery symbiosis provides a new framework. According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, there are over 150,000 C-stores nationwide located in urban areas, suburbs and rural towns. Leveraging this extensive retail infrastructure means Quick Commerce platforms can achieve wider coverage without investing in as many of their own micro-fulfillment centers. The partnership allows Gorillas to enter new markets faster while generating added foot traffic and revenue for the C-stores.

Figure. US Quick E-Commerce (Quick Commerce) Market Size (US$ Bn)