Lincoln, Neb. — Nearly half of rural Nebraskans are bypassing their local grocery stores to buy their food at supercenters and supermarkets, according to the 2017 Nebraska Rural Poll.
Local grocery stores maintain market share in communities that are large enough for them to be viable but too small to be major markets. Yet almost three in 10 residents of those places do most of their food shopping at supercenters or big-box retailers, the poll shows.
According to the latest batch of findings from this year's Rural Poll – the largest annual poll of rural Nebraskans' perceptions on quality of life and policy issues – those living in or near the largest communities tend to frequent either a supermarket or supercenter for most of their shopping. Residents of smaller towns and villages (populations under 500) are almost evenly split between their primary usage of supercenters, supermarkets and small grocery stores. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed who use supercenters have a small grocery store closer to them.
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