In March 2025, online grocery sales in the U.S. reached $9.7 billion, a 21% increase compared to the previous year. According to the latest data from Brick Meets Click, the increase was driven by a substantial rise in delivery orders.
Delivery volume jumped more than 30% year-over-year, fueled by ongoing promotions and a growing number of monthly active users. The findings are based on a shopper survey conducted March 30–31 and sponsored by Mercatus.
“Delivery’s remarkable year-over-year rebound highlights the potency of promotional strategies that help customers save more money,” said David Bishop, Partner at Brick Meets Click. “And, memberships/subscriptions are becoming essential for retaining customers and driving more recurring revenue via gains in order frequency and average order values.”
Â
The report marks five years since COVID-19 accelerated the shift to online grocery shopping. Monthly sales jumped from $2 billion in August 2019 to $6.5 billion in March 2020. March 2025 marked the eighth month in a row where online grocery sales topped $9.5 billion.
Delivery now accounts for 43% of all eGrocery orders, up from 26% pre-pandemic. Pickup accounts for nearly 39%, while Ship-to-Home has dropped to just 18%. These changes reshape how grocers allocate labor, manage inventory, and design last-mile operations.
More households are also using multiple fulfillment options each month. Before the pandemic, 85% of monthly active users stuck to just one method. Now, only 70% do, adding complexity to planning and logistics.
“Customer expectations around online grocery have only increased since COVID-19 pushed many to give it a try,” said Mark Fairhurst, Chief Growth Marketing Officer at Mercatus. “Retailers that elevate the experience with relevant offers and meaningful rewards won’t just meet shoppers’ evolving needs—they’ll build stronger connections that fuel long-term growth.”
