“I Bought Big Packs to Stock Up Because They Were a Better Deal”... Why Are They Disappearing From Grocery Stores?

222 mL Canned Soft Drink Sales Rise, While 2-Liter Products Decline
Smaller Packages Gain Popularity as One-Person Households Increase

Bulk products are gradually disappearing from U.S. grocery stores. Rather than stock up all at once because the price per unit is lower, more consumers are buying only what they need amid rising living costs and shrinking household sizes. Small cans and individually packaged products are quickly filling the gap.

Shoppers leaving Costco after grocery shopping. Photo by Cho Yongjun.

According to the “The End of Pantry Loading” report published last month by market research firm NielsenIQ (NIQ), sales of 7.5-ounce (about 222 ml) carbonated drinks in the United States rose 6.8% by value and 1.8% by volume over the 12 months through August 8 this year, compared with the same period a year earlier.

By contrast, sales of 2-liter products fell 3.5% by value and 3.9% by volume over the same period. This is believed to reflect a growing preference for smaller products, which cost less at checkout, over bulk products that are cheaper per unit.

From Soda to Snacks... Consumers Buy Only What They Can Eat at Once

The preference for smaller packages was also evident in cereal and snacks. Over the same period, sales of four-serving cereal products rose 57.4% by value and 31.6% by volume. By contrast, sales of 12-serving products fell 9.0% and 8.9%, respectively. For snacks such as potato chips, sales of single-serving products rose 15.6% by value and 9.9% by volume, while both figures for 15-serving products fell 2.5%.

A shopper buying groceries at a Costco store in the United States. Getty Images

NIQ cited the cost of living as a reason for this shift. Bulk products are cheaper per unit, but require a larger upfront payment. The analysis suggests that, as the burden of essential expenses such as housing and groceries grows, consumers are changing how they shop and buying only what they need right away.

Rising Living Costs and More One-Person Households Reduce Stockpiling

Smaller household sizes were also cited as a factor driving demand for smaller packages. People who live alone or whose children have moved out and reduced the number of household members tend to prefer products that are easy to store and can be consumed without leaving leftovers. Smaller cans of drinks also make it easier to manage sugar and calorie intake. The ability to reduce the burden of throwing away leftover food is another factor influencing consumer choices.

Consumers are also increasingly shopping to replenish foods as needed. The share of grocery purchases made to replenish items as needed rose from 29% in 2024 to 35% last year. By contrast, the share of purchases made in bulk for stockpiling remained at 25% in both years.

NIQ said, “As consumers change their shopping patterns to replenish food as needed, the traditional ‘Pantry Loading’ model of stockpiling bulk products all at once is becoming less important.” The company also explained that the spread of omnichannel shopping, which spans online and offline channels, is contributing to this shift. As it becomes easier to order products whenever they are needed, consumers have less need to buy large quantities for long-term storage.

Wider Use of Obesity Drugs Also Affects Package Sizes

Older 'Pantry Restock' videos posted on YouTube. The videos show people buying groceries in bulk and filling their cabinets and storage spaces. Screenshot from YouTube.

Interestingly, GLP-1 obesity drugs, whose use has been spreading rapidly in the United States, were also cited as one factor driving changes in consumer behavior. NIQ said that as the use of GLP-1 drugs changes some consumers’ meal sizes and eating habits, it is creating new demand for product package sizes and single-serving formats.

However, demand for bulk products has not disappeared entirely. In the U.S. carbonated beverage market, 12-packs of 12-ounce (about 355 ml) cans remain a leading product, and sales are also rising. NIQ said, “Bulk packs are better when families share products or need to store them for a long time, while smaller packages are better for managing consumption or reducing waste,” adding that a variety of package sizes should be offered to suit different consumption occasions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.