With the middle of the retail market evaporating, winning in 2026 is no longer about broad-based promotions. Instead, it is about mastering the value trifecta: the psychology of bifurcated shoppers, precise pricing, and the nuanced growth of the value channel (dollar stores, discount grocers).
At Kantar’s Value Channel virtual event, get the data-driven road map you need to partner with disruptive retailers and protect your margins now that shoppers define value not as “cheap” but as “essential.”
Key data and facts:
- The K-shaped spending gap: While the top 10% of earners now account for about 50% of total consumer spending, mainstream SKUs in the middle are declining 5%-7% annually as value variants post double-digit growth.
- The discount surge: Aldi is now the third-largest grocer in the US by store count. With plans to open more than 180 new stores in 2026, the retailer will operate in 31 states, including new markets like Colorado and Maine.
- The dollar store moat: Market penetration for dollar stores has reached 89% of US adults. One-third of dollar store shoppers now buy at least half their groceries at these stores.
