Amazing Survey by ISN Predicts Gen Z Will Abandon Supermarkets in Favour of Mobile Shopping

Supermarkets of the future will face an uphill battle to stay relevant—especially among Generation Z shoppers. According to a forward-looking consumer trends survey carried out by International Supermarket News, the traditional supermarket experience will see a dramatic decline in footfall from younger generations unless major changes are made.

We asked 357 young people aged 18 to 32, representative of Gen Z, about how they would respond if grocery shopping became easier, faster, and more enjoyable through mobile phones—particularly if delivery could be completed in under 15 minutes. The responses offered a clear vision of what lies ahead:

  • Only 7% said they would still go to supermarkets as they do today.

  • 31% said they would likely split their time—sometimes walking to the shops, but also regularly ordering online.

  • A striking 62% said they would stop going to physical supermarkets altogether.

What Will Change?

The answers make one thing clear: Generation Z will prioritise speed, convenience, and digital simplicity over the traditional grocery experience. They will prefer to spend their time in the gym, on social media, relaxing in the park, or engaging in wellness activities rather than queuing at tills or navigating crowded aisles.

Shopping for groceries will be viewed as just another digital task—one that will be easily ticked off through a few taps on their smartphone. For supermarkets to keep up, they will have to meet these consumers on their own digital turf.

The Future Supermarket: On Your Phone

In this near future, supermarkets will no longer compete solely on price, product range, or location. Instead, they will battle to be the preferred mobile app on consumers’ phones. The new war in retail will be defined by how many smartphones have a supermarket’s app downloaded—and how often those apps are actually used.

Retailers will offer lightning-fast delivery options, personalised offers, and loyalty rewards all within sleek, intuitive mobile apps. Gen Z will expect tailored grocery experiences, frictionless ordering, and seamless integration with their busy lifestyles.

What Retailers Must Do

Supermarkets that wish to thrive will have to evolve quickly. They will need to invest in:

  • High-performing mobile platforms with engaging user experiences

  • Same-hour delivery infrastructure

  • Sustainable, health-conscious product ranges

  • Social media engagement and digital storytelling

  • AI-driven personalisation and predictive shopping lists

Supermarkets that lag behind will likely lose their younger audience to faster, smarter, mobile-first competitors.

Conclusion: A Digital First Future

The findings of our amazing survey at ISN paint a bold picture of the future: in-store grocery shopping, as we know it, will become optional for most Gen Z consumers. Unless supermarkets transform into digital-first, experience-led platforms, they will risk being seen as outdated and inconvenient.

In the years ahead, success in food retail will not depend on who has the biggest store—but on who owns the space on your mobile screen.