Imagine a world where you never have to think about restocking your pantry again. Your essentials seamlessly replenish before you even realize you’re running low. You get personalized shopping recommendations that suit your lifestyle. And when you do go to the store, it’s no longer out of necessity — it’s a destination for fun and exploration.
This isn’t some far-fetched or distant possibility. According to new research from Mars, conducted on behalf of its snacking business, this is what the next era of the ever-evolving shopper journey is set to look like.
To map this shifting landscape and uncover what the next decade of commerce will look like, Mars partnered with research experts Kantar and Synthesis. Our teams analyzed more than 180,000 data signals1 across four continents — including shopper and channel publications, podcasts and expert perspectives — to understand the massive technological and cultural forces redefining how we shop in the snack aisle and beyond.
Once we analyzed the data, we uncovered two major opportunities emerging as technology and consumer expectations reshape retail:
- Say goodbye to shopping as a chore: Agentic assistants handle the mental load — building lists, restocking and even pivoting when items are out of stock. You get your personal time back to focus on what matters most to you.
- Say hello to shopping as an experience: With the functional role of shopping handled, physical stores transform into immersive hubs for discovery and connection. Shopping is no longer something you have to do — it’s something you want to do.
“Shopper and consumer expectations are evolving, and new technology is ready to enable them at scale,” said Neil Reynolds, Global Chief Customer Officer, Mars Snacking. “What excites us about this transformation is the opportunity to increasingly free people from the mental load of shopping. We have the insights. We have the commitment. And we’re ready to work with the retail customers and all partners on board to lead this transformation.”
Across different countries and cultures, our research revealed that shoppers everywhere are asking for the same three things — demands that are reshaping retail today and will define it tomorrow.
Think about the last time you went to the store. Did you get your cart, only to realize you left your list at home? Or maybe you spent 20 minutes wandering the aisles looking for that one item you couldn’t find. Shoppers are frustrated, and they’re eager for solutions.
Retailers like Amazon and Walmart are already responding, rolling out AI-powered tools that handle routine purchases and reorders. The momentum is clear, and it’s growing fast:
Consumers are using AI to discover e-commerce brands at more than 7 times the rate than they did a year ago2 — and the opportunity is projected to grow to $788B by 2035.1 In turn, brands must go the extra mile to earn a spot on automated grocery lists.
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all shopping. Consumers want retail to cater to their evolving lifestyles, calendars and wellness priorities — whether you need protein-rich foods for marathon training or snacks for a big party.
Thirty-nine percent of consumers already expect personalized online experiences.3 And in person, retailers are stepping up too. Walmart now offers sensory-friendly shopping hours for neurodivergent customers. In Asia, retailers are building assortments around solo households and specific wellness priorities.
By 2035, personalized commerce is projected to be worth $427B — up from $189B in 2025.1 For you, that means less time sifting through stuff you don’t want and more time discovering the things you actually need.
There’s been a lot of talk about the future of brick-and-mortar stores. What our research shows is this: Physical stores aren’t disappearing — they’re evolving.
With routine shopping handled by agentic assistants, the act of shopping becomes something people choose to do. And that opens up entirely new possibilities across both the physical and digital shopping spaces.
Brands are already leaning into this shift, with pop-ups, tastings and interactive experiences replacing traditional shelves. Digitally, the line between entertainment and commerce is blurring too, with 22% of U.S. digital buyers shopping via livestream.4
In short, stores will feel more connected to what’s happening around you, while shopping itself becomes a part of your favorite apps and entertainment.
Shaping the future of retail — and snacking
The future of shopping and retail is being written right now — and snacking is a big part of it. Over the next five years, we’ll be making investments to reimagine snacking and bring greater choice to consumers, from everyday treats and on-the-go snacks to nutritious options to fuel the day. At the same time, we’re helping retailers position those snacks exactly where consumers will discover them — serving more of the moments that matter and growing responsibly for generations to come. And we're committed to working with retailers and all partners to make this future a reality, together.
Sources
1. Mars Future Snacking Shopper Journey analysis, developed with Kantar and Synthesis, is based on 180,000+ global signals — 91,500 channel and 79,300 shopper publications, 4,999 podcasts (21,755 minutes), 30+ research reports and 11 expert perspectives — collected January 2024 through December 2025 across the U.S., U.K., UAE, India, China, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia.
2. AI Shopping Skyrockets: BrightEdge Data Crowns 2025 The First AI-Driven Ecommerce Holiday Season | Brightedge https://www.brightedge.com/news/press-releases/ai-shopping-skyrockets-brightedge-data-crowns-2025-first-ai-driven-ecommerce
3. Four in 10 Consumers Now Expect Personalized Marketing Experiences | TransUnion https://newsroom.transunion.com/four-in-10-consumers-now-expect-personalized-marketing-experiences/
4. FAQ on livestream commerce: What marketers need to know about live shopping in 2026 | EMARKETER https://www.emarketer.com/content/faq-on-livestream-commerce--what-marketers-need-know-about-live-shopping-2026
