E-grocery sales grew 20.7% in Q3 2026 compared to the previous year, capturing a record 20.9% share of total grocery spending as delivery services expanded and monthly active users reached nearly 64% of U.S. households.
- E-grocery sales jumped 20.7% year-over-year in Q3 2026, achieving a record 20.9% share of total grocery spending
- Delivery services led growth with more than 30% gains, while pickup grew in mid-single digits and ship-to-home grew slightly below the topline
- Online grocery penetration reached 64% of U.S. households in September 2026, surpassing the previous peak from October 2025
- Order frequency increased nearly 14% in Q3, with 17% of users now using all three fulfillment methods (delivery, pickup, ship-to-home) in the same month
- Repeat intent rate for delivery and pickup services climbed to 62% in 2026, up from 56% in 2024, showing strong customer loyalty
Online grocery sales jumped 20.7% in the third quarter of 2026 vs. a year ago and captured a record share of total grocery spending, according to the monthly Brick Meets Click Grocery Shopper Surveys.
For the past eight consecutive quarters, year-over-year (YOY) growth has exceeded 20%, fueled by steady gains in order frequency and an expanding monthly user base.
“Customers today have a multitude of online grocery options that can satisfy a broad range of needs states and/or occasions from an urgent quick trip to a routine stock up,” says David Bishop, partner at Brick Meets Click. “Many of the newer e-grocery offerings focus on shorter order cycle times, while others strive to provide ways to avoid paying more than necessary.”
Key takeaways:
· All three methods used to receive e-grocery orders (delivery, pickup and ship-to-home) posted positive YOY gains for 3Q26. Delivery drove three-quarters of the topline increase, growing more than 30% vs. last year and adding over five percentage points to its sales share for the quarter, largely at the expense of pickup, which only grew in the mid-single digits. Ship-to-home grew slightly less than the topline result of 20.7%.
· During September, online grocery penetration reached a record high level of monthly active users (MAUs), representing nearly 64% of all U.S. households and surpassing the previous peak set in October 2025. The strong results for September boosted the quarterly MAU base by 120 basis points vs. a year ago, encompassing almost 62% of all U.S. households in 3Q26. In addition, the total share of U.S. households that have ever bought groceries online ended the quarter at 81%.
· Order frequency has also grown at an accelerating rate since last year, rising nearly 14% in the most recent quarter. This increase corresponds with broader use of multiple e-grocery fulfillment methods: 17% of MAUs used all three methods (delivery, pickup and ship-to-home) in the same month, up more than five percentage points year over year.
· The ongoing gains in order frequency and the base of monthly users helped e-grocery achieve its highest sales share during 3Q26, capturing 20.9% of total grocery spending as in-store sales for the quarter declined YOY.
· During the third quarter of 2026, customers’ likelihood of using the same online grocery shopping service again within the next 30 days climbed for the second year in a row. The repeat intent rate associated with using either a delivery or pickup service grew from 56% in 2024, to 61% in 2025, and to 62% this year.
