1、Margins under pressure,models in motionThe State of Grocery Retail 2026Europe Getty ImagesContentsForeword 3State of Grocery Retail Europe 2026 6 Market dynamics in 2025 8 2026:Renewed momentum 9 Key trends and AI opportunities 13 Meeting evolving customer needs 14 Addressing the growth and producti
2、vity challenge 17 Building differentiation 20 Turning AI into an advantage 23 Implications for grocers 29Food and grocery market KPIs in 2025 31Consumer survey results 33Acknowledgments,contributors,and contacts 36Christel Delberghe Director general EuroCommerceDaniel Lubli EMEA Retail colead McKins
3、ey&CompanyForewordFor the European grocery sector,2025 was a year of stabilization.Compared to 2024,shoppers spending patterns remained largely unchanged,while grocers continued to contend with cost pressure.In early 2026,64 percent of grocery CEOs anticipate that market conditions will improve or r
4、emain similar compared to 2025.Nevertheless,the environment is still challenging.Margin pressure remains the primary concern,competition stays intense,and growth prospects continue to look muted in the medium term.Looking ahead to 2026,grocery executives face both opportunities and challenges.As inp
5、ut costs showed early signs of easing at the beginning of 2026,how will grocers respond to the challenges posed by ongoing geopolitical disruptions?What is the right balance between recovering margins and delivering value to shoppers?And how can grocers use data,AI,and technology to drive measurable
6、 business impactespecially as agentic AI is beginning to reshape the way consumers shop and grocers run their business?Recent developments in early 2026,including escalating tensions in the Middle East,underscore the fragility of the current stabilization.As seen in recent years,geopolitical shocks