The short time to market and the quick flow of products within the company is what sets the food and beverage industry apart. This is because the perishable goods they produce have a short shelf life. After all, who wants to pay for food and beverage supplies that are past their expiration date, or close to it?

An unhappy customer isn’t a repeat customer, so businesses have to align their internal processes to meet buyer demands as quickly as possible.And because consumers rarely buy directly from the manufacturer, the entire food and beverage supply chain require complex internal logistics.

This is the current reality. However, new trends point towards digital disruption finally resulting in the growth of the food and beverage industry e-commerce.

Top trends in the food and beverage industry

According to 2019 data from eMarketer, grocery e-commerce was predicted to grow 18% this year in the U.S. alone. Since eMarketer’s report, the world has faced serious change due to the coronavirus pandemic and this change is impacting the food and beverage industry significantly. In fact, according to 2020 research, 31% of U.S. shoppers reported that they will likely continue to use online grocery pickup or delivery — even after the pandemic is over. This is a 20% increase from what we saw prior to COVID-19.

Globally, online sales will make up 15-20% of the food and beverage industry’s overall sales by 2025: 10x more than it did in 2016. Why? The industry is adopting alternative methods to meet customer demands.

There are a number of trends in the food and beverage industry that stand out. Read on to learn more, or download our Food and Beverage Industry E-Commerce Trend Report for a deep dive.