Leading Grocery Brands in the U.S. in Q3 2023: A Sensor Tower Analysis

Introduction

In the dynamic world of grocery retail, a strong digital presence is essential for staying ahead. This article examines the Q3 2023 performance of leading U.S. grocery brands, including Kroger, Whole Foods Market, and Safeway. Utilizing Sensor Tower's comprehensive analytics tools, we analyze audience trends, app engagement, and advertising strategies.

Kroger

Kroger stands out with a robust digital footprint through its website, kroger.com, and the Kroger app.

• Audience Trends: In Q3 2023, kroger.com experienced fluctuating site visits, peaking at over 64M in July and slightly decreasing to 54M in September. The monthly true audience remained stable, consistently above 13M, with a significant mobile user base.

• App Engagement: The Kroger app maintained a steady monthly active user base between 9M and 9.5M, reflecting consistent engagement.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Kroger's monthly advertising expenditure peaked at over $8.5M in May. Facebook and OTT were pivotal channels, delivering high monthly impressions.

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market leverages wholefoodsmarket.com and the Whole Foods Market app for its digital strategy.

• Audience Trends: The website saw a decline in visits from 18M in April to 12M in September. Monthly true audience figures were stable, exceeding 5M, with balanced web and app distribution.

• App Engagement: Monthly active users on the app decreased slightly, from 2.6M in May to 2.4M in September, indicating stable engagement.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Whole Foods Market's monthly advertising spend decreased, notably dropping to $2.4M in August. Instagram and OTT were critical channels, contributing to significant monthly impressions.

Safeway

Safeway’s digital offerings include safeway.com and the Safeway Deals & Delivery app.

• Audience Trends: Safeway.com visits increased to 19M in June, remaining strong throughout the quarter. Monthly true audience consistently exceeded 5.5M, with a notable web and app visitor mix.

• App Engagement: The app experienced a steady rise in monthly active users, reaching 3.7M in September, highlighting growing engagement.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Safeway's monthly ad spend was stable at around $2M. Facebook and Instagram were primary channels, achieving substantial reach.

Conclusion

Kroger, Whole Foods Market, and Safeway lead the grocery sector with effective digital strategies. Sensor Tower's data provides critical insights into their performance, emphasizing the significance of cross-platform engagement and targeted advertising. For a comprehensive understanding of web and app user behavior, Sensor Tower's Web Insights and App Performance Insights offer unparalleled data solutions.