With new ecommerce stores popping up everyday, even shopping for essentials from the comfort of your home has become more commonplace. Shoppers quickly noticed the convenience of picking out groceries without having to pace through aisles, looking for products one by one.
There are various kinds of ecommerce platforms for grocery shopping currently in the market. And with its massive growth potential, more companies are striving to stand out by adding features such as subscription models, eco-friendly initiatives, and AI-driven recommendations.
We’ve covered five of the best ecommerce platform for grocery shopping, including their pros, cons, and pricing to help you take your independent grocery shop online.
What is a Grocery Ecommerce Platform?
A grocery ecommerce platform is a digital tool to help businesses set up and run ecommerce grocery stores. It comes with everything you need to create a website where customers can browse, order, and get groceries delivered to their doorsteps.
With grocery ecommerce solutions, you can provide useful features like inventory tracking, secure payment options, and delivery management to your shoppers. In 2024, online grocery sales in the US are projected to reach $204.61 billion, surpassing the $200 billion threshold for the first time.
As more people turn to ecommerce grocery stores for convenience, these platforms help you stay competitive and meet customer expectations.
Grocery Ecommerce Platform Checklist
Not all grocery ecommerce platforms are made equal, and your choice depends on the features you need the most. While some platforms have better mobile shopping experiences, others are better equipped with flexible delivery options.
The section below will provide a detailed checklist for grocery ecommerce platforms so you know what to look out for before settling on an option.
1. User-friendly Interface
Your ideal grocery store platform must be easy to navigate to keep customers engaged. Categories like fresh produce, packaged goods, dairy, and household essentials should be easily accessible.
A powerful search tool with filters for price range, product categories, organic options, and more helps customers find products quickly. Keeping your store mobile-friendly can also bring in more orders, as busy shoppers often prefer to do their essential shopping from anywhere.
2. Product Management
Your choice platform should offer real-time inventory tracking, stock updates, and automated alerts when stock is low. It should also support different product variants (e.g., size, brand, or color) and allow for easy updates.
Remember to ensure that the ecommerce grocery platform also lets you use clear images, detailed product descriptions, and nutritional information, which are important for grocery items.
3. Cart and Checkout Process
Customers should be able to add, remove, or adjust the quantity of items in their cart easily. Look for ecommerce grocery solutions with multiple payment methods (PayPal, Apple Pay, Cash-on-Delivery, etc.) and built-in tools that allow customers to use discounts or loyalty rewards.
If you want to convert your visitors to customers, offering low-commitment options like guest checkout can be great for those who don’t want to create an account.
4. Delivery and Fulfillment
A great grocery ecommerce software for grocery must have multiple delivery options (same-day, next-day, or scheduled delivery), real-time delivery tracking, and the ability to set and manage delivery fees based on location.
The best ecommerce platform for grocery store helps increase transparency and loyalty towards your shop, as well as reducing uncertainty, especially if the customer has paid upfront for their order.
5. Customer Accounts
Grocery ecommerce platforms should allow users to create accounts where they can save preferences, track orders, and manage subscriptions. This, alongside AI-driven algorithms to suggest relevant products, can help significantly improve the shopping experience.
6. Security and Compliance
The best grocery ecommerce platform should help you stay compliant with data privacy regulations, ensure secure data handling, and feature two-factor authentication (2FA) or fraud detection tools.
Learn more about ecommerce fraud statistics to be prepared for any fraudulent activities.
7. Analytics and Reporting
The ecommerce solution for grocery should provide in-depth reporting on sales, popular products, customer demographics, and more. Look for access to data on how customers are interacting with your site, such as which pages are visited most often and what products are added to carts.
8. Customer Support and Assistance
The best grocery ecommerce platform should offer round-the-clock support to resolve any issues quickly, whether through chat, email, or phone. Also, a built-in help desk or ticketing system ensures customers can get assistance whenever they need it.
If you want to start a grocery store online, learn about the B2C ecommerce best practices to start on a strong note.
5 Best Ecommerce Platforms for Grocery Shops
Now that you know how to determine the best ecommerce platform for grocery, we have found and tested multiple grocery ecommerce solutions for you to choose from.
Keep the checklist in mind and select the grocery marketplace platform that fits your business needs.
1. EasyCommerce
If you want an easy-to-use platform to get your independent grocery store online, EasyCommerce is a great solution. With its built-in product, inventory, delivery management, and more, getting the essentials to your customers becomes easier than ever.
EasyCommerce is developed as a WordPress plugin, so it can turn your already existing site into a fully-functional online store. Unlike other ecommerce grocery platforms, EasyCommerce is optimized for speed and security so you can offer a fast, safe, and easy-to-navigate grocery shopping experience to your customers.
You can also get real-time reports on sales, trending products, and even abandoned carts directly from the EasyCommerce dashboard. With multiple add-ons for payment gateways and advanced functionalities built just for EasyCommerce, you can keep your store lightweight while adding new features that make it exceptionally easy to manage your store.
What We Liked About EasyCommerce
- Abandoned Cart Recovery: Recover lost sales easily with reminder emails sent directly from the dashboard.
- Shipping Automation: Set multiple shipping methods for separate areas and easily adjust the delivery fee based on the location.
- In-depth Analytics: EasyCommerce gives you real-time reports of your sales, trending products, and low stock products so you can manage your offerings better.
- Dedicated Customer Support: Get personalized support via email or ticket system.
What We Didn’t Like About EasyCommerce
- Only on WordPress: EasyCommerce is only a WordPress-based plugin, so it cannot be used as a separate platform.
Pricing
EasyCommerce is free to install and use. However, add-ons and hosting may incur costs.
Check out the top ecommerce plugins for WordPress to pick out the best option to take your grocery store online.
2. Shopify
For grocery store owners who need a reliable, scalable, and easy-to-use ecommerce platform, Shopify is a top contender. It provides a fully hosted solution, so you don’t have to worry about security, server maintenance, or software updates.
With an intuitive dashboard, built-in payment processing, and a huge marketplace of apps, Shopify makes it simple to launch and manage an online grocery business.
Shopify offers multi-channel selling so you can sell through a website, on social media, and even in-person using Shopify POS. You can also integrate with third-party apps for grocery-specific needs like perishable inventory management, scheduled deliveries, and wholesale pricing.
What We Liked About Shopify
- User-friendly Setup: No coding is required; you can easily create a professional online store with drag-and-drop tools.
- Smooth Delivery & Pickup Options: Offer local delivery, curbside pickup, or shipping with customizable rates.
- Powerful Inventory Management: Track stock levels in real time, set up automatic restocks, and manage bulk products.
What We Didn’t Like About Shopify
- Additional Costs for Apps: Some essential grocery features require paid add-ons.
- Transaction Fees: Unless you use Shopify Payments, there are additional fees per transaction.
Pricing
Shopify’s plans start at $19/month, with higher-tier plans for growing businesses. There’s also a 3-day free trial and a $1/month offer for the first three months on select plans.
3. Mercato
Mercato is designed specifically for local grocery stores that want to take their store online without prior technical experience. What sets Mercato apart is that it lets you work with local suppliers, so you can offer fresh produce without worrying about manually updating product listings or availability.
Managing your store operations is also simple with Mercato, as you can handle deliveries, track inventory and orders, and offer customized delivery options from the same interface.
Plus, the platform comes with detailed reporting tools so you can keep an eye on sales, inventory levels, and customer preferences to make data-driven decisions for your business.
What We Like About Mercato
- Local Supplier Integration: Mercato connects directly with local suppliers, which makes it easy to offer fresh, locally-sourced products to your customers.
- Customer-Focused Features: Access simple tools for customers to search, select, and check out their grocery orders without any hassle.
- Customizable Design Options: Get customizable templates so you can personalize the look and feel of your online store to reflect your brand.
What We Didn’t Like About Mercato
- Limited to Grocery Stores: While Mercato is fantastic for ecommerce grocery stores, it’s not as versatile for other types of businesses.
- Not a Website Builder: Unlike EasyCommerce or Shopify, Mercato is is more of a specialized platform for independent grocery stores rather than a general ecommerce solution.
Pricing
The price to become a merchant is only available via custom quote.
4. My Cloud Grocer
If you’re running a grocery store and want a full-service ecommerce solution, My Cloud Grocer is worth considering. Unlike the other store builders mentioned in this list, this platform is designed specifically for supermarkets and grocery chains.
With My Cloud Grocer, you don’t have to worry about managing servers or technical upkeep, as it’s a fully hosted solution that takes care of things like real-time inventory updates, seamless checkout, and personalized shopping experiences. It also integrates with your POS system, so your online and in-store inventory always stay in sync.
My Cloud Grocer also supports features that make grocery ecommerce tricky, like weighted pricing, multi-item promotions, and flexible delivery or pickup options. Plus, with built-in marketing tools, you can run digital ads and targeted promotions to keep customers engaged.
What We Liked About My Cloud Grocer
- POS Integration: Keeps your inventory accurate across both online and physical stores.
- Advanced Personalization: Customers receive custom recommendations based on their shopping history.
- Multiple Delivery & Pickup Options: Supports same-day delivery, curbside pickup, and scheduled orders.
What We Didn’t Like About My Cloud Grocer
- Pricing Might Be Higher for Small Stores: Since My Cloud Grocer is built for supermarkets and grocery chains, smaller businesses might find it a bit pricey.
Pricing
My Cloud Grocer works on a subscription-based model, with pricing depending on the size and needs of your grocery store.
5. Growcer
Growcer is a turnkey solution that comes with built-in inventory management, multi-vendor capabilities, and an intuitive shopping experience that makes it easy to sell groceries online. It stands out on our list of best ecommerce platform for grocery shops because of its marketplace model that allows multiple vendors to sell their products on a single platform.
Growcer comes with essential features like geo-based delivery management, automated order processing, and an easy-to-use interface for both you and your customers. Plus, you get ready-made mobile apps for both iOS and Android so your customers can shop on the go, and you can manage both desktop and app versions from the same interface.
What We Liked About Growcer
- Multi-Vendor Marketplace: Allows multiple sellers to list products while giving you full control over pricing, commissions, and delivery management.
- Flexible Delivery: Set up delivery zones, automate fees, and offer scheduled deliveries.
- User-Friendly Admin Dashboard: Get real-time insights into sales, inventory levels, and vendor performance all in one place.
What We Didn’t Like About Growcer
- Requires Hosting & Setup: While Growcer is easy to use, you’ll still need hosting and some initial configuration to get your store up and running.
Pricing
Growcer follows a one-time licensing model (starting at $999), meaning you pay once for the platform rather than ongoing monthly fees. Additional costs may come from hosting, customizations, or third-party integrations.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best ecommerce platform for your grocery store can make all the difference in how smoothly your business operates online. If you’re just starting out and need something simple and budget-friendly, EasyCommerce might be the right fit for you, especially if you’re already using WordPress.
For those looking for an all-in-one solution, Shopify provides powerful features that let you sell across different channels, including social media and marketplaces. If you want to connect to local suppliers to easily update your listing, Mercato can help you do just that.
On the other hand, if you’re running a larger grocery operation and need something designed for supermarkets, My Cloud Grocer could be the perfect match. For those who want to create a multi-vendor marketplace, Growcer offers the flexibility to manage multiple sellers and gives your customers a personalized shopping experience.
At the end of the day, the best ecommerce platform for grocery depends on your store’s size, your budget, and where you want to take your business in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which ecommerce platform offers the best delivery management for grocery stores?
Growcer and EasyCommerce both offer strong delivery management tools. Growcer provides features like order tracking, delivery scheduling, and mobile apps for delivery personnel, while EasyCommerce allows for customized delivery fees based on location.
Can I use Shopify to sell groceries online?
Yes! Shopify is a versatile platform suitable for selling groceries online. It has an easy-to-use interface, integrations with third-party logistics providers, and customizable themes.
Which platform is easiest to use for someone new to ecommerce?
If you’re new to ecommerce, Shopify is widely regarded as the easiest to use due to its user-friendly interface, extensive tutorials, and a vast range of themes and plugins.
EasyCommerce is another good option if you already have a WordPress site and are familiar with its interface.
How much do these grocery ecommerce platforms cost?
- EasyCommerce is free to install but may incur additional costs for add-ons and hosting.
- Shopify offers subscription plans starting at $29/month.
- Mercato doesn’t have a pricing model, you can only become a merchant via a custom quote.
- My Cloud Grocer is a premium service and typically involves a custom pricing model depending on your business needs.
- Growcer is also a premium platform, and pricing varies based on the specific features and services you require.