Grocery Trends 2025: Shoppers Are Reshaping the Industry
23 Apr 2025

Grocery Trends 2025: Shoppers Are Reshaping the Industry


Shoppers Reshape the Grocery Experience

Provoke Insights’ recent feature in Progressive Grocer highlights major shifts in grocery shopping behaviors based on findings from the firm’s 2025 Trends Report. Consumers are no longer passive participants in the grocery aisle, as they are driving decisions across pricing, format, and technology. The grocery research, which surveyed 1,500 Americans, shows that inflation continues to influence purchase decisions, with many shoppers switching to private label and bulk-buying options to manage rising costs. Traditional brand loyalty is no longer a guarantee.

In addition, the article also reveals a major shift in how often consumers shop. Frequent, flexible grocery visits are now the norm, fueled by remote work and changing household needs. These habits require retailers to think beyond the traditional weekly promotion model and offer convenience-driven solutions that reward repeat engagement.

Digital Behavior and AI Tools Are Changing Expectations

The grocery trends data reveals that online grocery shopping is now a popular option. Some consumers prefer Amazon. Others choose Instacart or their local supermarket’s app. Preferences vary by income and location. That means digital strategy must be tailored.

In addition, AI is becoming more popular. Nearly 40 percent of shoppers want smart tools to manage lists, suggest items, and find deals. Gen Z and parents are especially eager. Clearly, shoppers want tech that saves time and adds value.

What Retailers Should Do Next

These shifts in grocery shopping behavior are more than temporary. They reflect deeper, lasting changes. Therefore, grocery brands must act now. Retailers that use grocery research to understand these changes will stay ahead.

The article in Progressive Grocer makes one thing clear. Data must guide every decision. From private label growth to AI adoption, market research is essential.

To access the full 2025 Trends Report click here. If you would like to launch a custom grocery market study, contact Provoke Insights.

Create Personas That Actually Kill It
10 Apr 2025

Create Personas That Actually Kill It

If You’re Still Marketing to “Women 25–54,” We Need to Talk

Generic buyer profiles aren’t cutting it anymore. If you want your brand to resonate, you need to build personas that work. There are several market research services that can help bring personas to life.

A well-developed persona tells you who your customer is, why they care, and how to connect with them. But here’s the secret: the strongest personas aren’t brainstormed in a meeting room. They’re built through research.

That’s where market research services come in. When done right, they deliver personas that do more than sit in a PowerPoint — they guide strategy, messaging, product development, and media targeting.

Research Helps Develop Personas that Drive Results

Powerful personas are built from layered data, not assumptions. Start by interviewing internal stakeholders — your sales and service teams often know your customer better than anyone else. Their insights help uncover patterns worth exploring.

Next, analyze industry reports and existing customer data. Secondary research is a fast way to ground your understanding in macro trends and benchmarks.

Then, go outside. Social listening tools show what people really say online — their tone, frustrations, and preferences. It’s authentic and often surprising.

To validate what you’re hearing, layer in survey research. Large-scale surveys conducted through professional market research services help quantify behaviors, segment audiences, and pinpoint what drives decision-making. Want to go deeper? Use focus groups or in-depth interviews to bring emotion and context into the picture.

Whether you use one method or combine them all, the goal is the same: a well-rounded, deeply human understanding of your audience.

What a Strong Persona Should Include

Every persona should paint a complete picture. That means demographics, values, media habits, motivations, pain points, and preferred messaging. Include quotes, photos, and a backstory to make them feel real — not robotic. Keep it visual and easy to digest. If your team isn’t using it, it’s not doing its job.

Bring Personas to Life Across Your Organization

This isn’t just for marketers. Sales, product, creative, even HR — everyone benefits when they understand who you’re speaking to. Use personas to brief teams, guide campaigns, shape UX, and inspire innovation. The best ones are revisited and refined regularly — not created once and forgotten.

Why It Pays to Pay for Research

You can build basic personas internally. But when you invest in expert-led market research services, you gain depth, accuracy, and objectivity. Agencies bring fresh perspective, advanced tools, and strategic analysis that go far beyond DIY efforts.

Bottom line: smart brands pay for great research because it leads to better strategy — and better results.

Want Personas That Actually Drive Growth?

The real win isn’t just having a beautiful slide or a clever name for your persona. It’s creating something that feels alive — something that tells the full story of who your customer is, what they care about, and why they choose you.

A great persona doesn’t sit on a server collecting dust. It’s a living, breathing tool that anyone — from a media buyer to a product manager to a creative freelancer — can pick up and say, “I get it. This is who we’re talking to.”

That’s when personas stop being a box to check and start becoming the foundation for better, more human marketing.

Interested in reading more- Check out our blogs on segmentations:

Restaurant Trends 2025: Personalized Promotions Beat Out AI
08 Apr 2025

Restaurant Trends 2025: Personalized Promotions Beat Out AI

As restaurants look ahead, restaurant trends for 2025 reveal a clear winner in driving customer loyalty: personalized promotions. According to Provoke Insights’ Summer 2025 Consumer Trends Report, created in partnership with Modern Restaurant Management (MRM), nearly one-third of Americans say tailored deals make them more loyal to specific restaurants.

Although AI-powered features continue to emerge in the industry, consumers remain more interested in tools that prioritize convenience and value. “Self-service kiosks and customized offers are far more appealing than advanced AI integrations,” says Carly Fink, President and Head of Research & Strategy at Provoke Insights.

Highlights from the Article

High-income households and urban dwellers are leading the charge in restaurant visits, especially at upscale locations.

• Millennials and parents also over-index on restaurant outings, favoring nightlife and elevated dining experiences.

• Inflation remains a concern, with 73% of Americans noticing higher restaurant prices—second only to grocery stores.

• Many low-frequency diners have incomes under $150,000 and eat out only a few times per year.

Despite rising costs, consumer optimism is growing. This positive outlook is fueled by a renewed emphasis on family time and personal well-being. To capitalize on these shifts, restaurants should consider:

• Family-friendly promotions like “kids eat free” nights

• Health-conscious and plant-based options

• Locally sourced and cost-effective menu innovations

• Experiential dining that doubles as an escape for busy professionals

Rather than overhauling their tech stack, restaurants should focus on introducing AI where it enhances the guest experience. For example, quick-service brands can benefit from automation, while full-service restaurants should double down on hospitality. Most importantly, AI can be used to deliver smart, personalized promotions that encourage repeat visits.

These findings come from a nationally representative survey of 1,500 U.S. adults aged 21–65, conducted in March 2025. The data is part of Provoke Insights’ bi-annual trend study, now in its tenth wave, offering a pulse on evolving consumer behavior.

Want to explore more insights from this wave?

Check out the full Summer 2025 Consumer Trends Report for research on grocery, alcohol, skincare, furniture, high net worth consumers, and more.

Looking to uncover insights that drive business growth?

Contact Provoke Insights to learn how our custom market research solutions can support your brand strategy, innovation, and advertising.

2025 AI and Furniture Industry Research
01 Apr 2025

2025 AI and Furniture Industry Research

AI’s benefits, helpfulness embraced by furniture shoppers, survey finds


Provoke Insights’ latest furniture industry research is featured in Furniture Today. The AI and furniture industry research report explores the consumers interest in using AI shopping tools when buying. Drawing on insights from a bi-annual national survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers, the report highlights growing enthusiasm for AI-powered tools, especially among younger, urban, and tech-savvy shoppers. Read more from the article here.

Below are exciting data about AI and the furniture industry:

• Top AI features: personalized picks (43%), chatbots (43%), faster decisions (38%), and brand discovery (36%).

• Popular tools: 360° views (45%), QR/barcode scanning (40%), in-app shopping (40%), and room visualizers (38%).

• AI is seen as helpful for furniture shopping but trust in its recommendations is only moderate.

• Furniture purchases hold steady at 13%, led by Gen Z, parents, and urbanites.

• Recent buyers stay active online—42% browse influencers, 39% join loyalty programs, and 32% engage with brands on social.

Want to learn more about the latest AI and furniture industry trends? Check out our 2025 Summer Trends research here. The research explores consumer buying preferences across 15 industries.