Grocery Wars: Area stores adding services to seduce us

German grocery chain Lidl is making its way to Ohio — upping the competition for grocery retailers that are already feeling the impacts of the changing industry and consumer habits.

Lidl’s expansion is yet another heating up the competition after online retailer Amazon bought Whole Foods earlier this year. Major grocers — including Kroger, Meijer, Whole Foods, Aldi, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market and Costco — have all added stores to Southwest Ohio within the past several years, and are battling to get customers through the doors.

“It’s great news any time the consumer has more choices,” said Sandra Pereira, Beavercreek associate city planner.

The supermarkets and grocery industry have a major impact on local economies, and brought in $612 billion in revenue nationwide last year. More than 2.6 million people were employed by the industry in 2016 as well.

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