Discount and specialty grocers (think Grocery Outlet or Sprouts) are rapidly growing in popularity as shoppers increasingly search for lower prices or an exclusive selection of difficult-to-find products. A report from commercial real estate firm JLL says foot traffic is rising at stores such as Aldi, Grocery Outlet and Trader’s Joe’s because of both inflationary pressures and unique offerings. “Specialty grocers are having a moment,” the report notes, adding that Sprouts opened 35 stores in 2024 while Trader’s Joe’s opened 34 and Amazon-owned Whole Foods opened 21. Amazon just announced that it would close all Fresh and Go stores and open more than 100 new Whole Foods locations in the next few years.
