Article Review: The Return of the Great American Grocery Store

“2020 Year in Review: The Return of the Great American Grocery Store” by Laurie Demeritt

We all know this hasn’t been the easiest year to deal with. Luckily, we’ve had our most loyal and trustworthy grocery stores at our side. This article discusses the importance and initiative that grocery stores and their frontline workers have taken on during the spread of the Coronavirus. These stores have continued to anchor food sourcing strategies for countless households who very well might have been lost without them. It’s certainly not ideal to solely rely on eating at restaurants (or starving) which highlights our reliance on keeping our pantries and refrigerators stocked at all times.

Demeritt also discusses the way in which grocery stores have adapted in order to make us feel safe. By adhering to safety guidelines, many grocery stores have implemented mask-wearing requirements as well as social distancing and bagging your own groceries if you’ve provided your own bag from home. All of these strategies have helped keep peace of mind for both consumers and employees.

Grocery stores also have shown us an innovative way of shopping considering health is not only important during a widespread pandemic (which by the way will continue to run its course through 2021). This is one aspect of life that will potentially become a new normal for people generally, so it’s important that we also adapt. Demeritt says “most households are seeing significant change to their shopping, cooking, and eating routines. Engaging in comfort food consumption for emotional well-being, consumers are also proactively stocking pantries for physical health.” So let’s remember to always be taking care of ourselves and those around us!