The Power of Grocery Shopping Lists with Categories (Backed by Data!)

With endless product options, stores designed to drive impulse buys, and the rise of online grocery shopping, a well-planned shopping list is more important than ever. See what the research has to say about shopping lists.

👉 Categorization = better organisation

This surveyshows that 76% of shoppers list general product names on their shopping lists, while only 34% include specific brand names.

Categorization helps reduce time spent searching and improves efficiency while shopping. Brand-specific entries may still be useful for preferred items, but they’re less common and harder to group. Digital lists support both naming styles and often sort items automatically by category. 

This structure not only speeds up shopping but also supports better planning and budgeting.

👉 You can save up 23 minutes on average

Using a well-organized shopping list can significantly reduce the time spent in store. A 2023 article reports that shoppers with a grocery list spend around 23 minutes less on average than those without one.

Digital lists help complete shopping up to 40%faster

The time savings are even greater when the list is organized by category or store layout, allowing for a more direct route through the aisles.

According to research, digital lists that support this kind of structure help complete shopping up to 40% faster than when using unorganized paper lists or no lists at all. This efficiency comes from reduced backtracking and fewer forgotten items. Grouping items into sections like produce, dairy, and pantry makes it easier to follow a logical path through the store.

👉 Shopping list means less money spent

About 44% of shoppers believe that using a shopping list helps them spend less on groceriesand household items. Lists help keep focus on planned purchases and reduce impulse buys, which often drive up the total cost. By sticking to what’s written, shoppers avoid grabbing unnecessary extras.

This is especially effective when the list is prepared in advance, based on meals or household needs. Digital shopping lists can support this further by tracking prices or highlighting past purchases.

👉 Not forgetting items is the main driver for using shopping lists

Avoiding forgotten items is one of the main reasons people use shopping lists. In fact, 72% of shoppers say this is their top motivation. Without a list, it’s easy to overlook essentials – especially during busy or rushed trips. A clear, well-structured list ensures that nothing gets missed, whether you're shopping in-store or online.

Digital lists add another layer of reliability, often syncing across devices or shared with others. This means even last-minute additions can be included without rewriting the list. By reducing forgotten items, you also cut down on extra trips to the store. A good list saves time not only during shopping but afterwards too.

Organized shopping lists propose benefits that can elevate your shopping experience. Let’s take a look at them.

✅ Sort items to shop faster

A paper list is a solid starting point, but a digital shopping list offers more efficiency by letting you sort items by category, such as produce, dairy, or pantry goods. This structure matches the layout of most stores, helping you move through aisles faster without backtracking.

Categorization also reduces the chances of forgetting items in a section you’ve already passed. Compared to a scattered list, a grouped one keeps your trip focused and organized. The result is a faster, more efficient shopping experience.

✅ Create custom categories for special items

Most stores follow a general layout, but your shopping habits might not. With Listonic, you can go beyond default sections and create custom categories that fit your routine. Whether it’s “baby food,” “weekly deals,” or “dog essentials,” you decide how to group items.

Custom categories make your list clearer and more relevant to how you actually shop. They also speed up the process by letting you focus on what matters most. Instead of adapting to a fixed structure, you build one that works for you. This flexibility makes planning easier and shopping more efficient.

Walk into the store with a clear, organized plan. Since every store has a different layout, product categories might appear in a different order. Adapt your list to match each store’s setup: simply create separate lists for your favorite stores andset a custom category order. This ensures your list follows the store layout, so you can move aisle by aisle without backtracking.

It also helps reduce the time spent looking for specific items. Instead of scanning a disorganized list, you follow a logical flow through the store. The result is a faster, more focused shopping experience with less stress.

✅ BONUS: Match your favorite store’s layout

Managing categories is so easy

• Go to the app settings in Profile
• Go to Manage categories
• Choose ‘Add category’ or “Category order”

Try it out

Custom categories aren’t just for organizing store aisles—they can be tailored to how you shop, plan, and save.

Wishlists

There are items you don’t want to buy right away. Some products are optional, seasonal, or something that you want to keep in mind for later. That’s where a wishlist category comes in.

You can use it to track items you want to go back to some time in the future, like a new kitchen gadget, a specific snack, or a cleaning product you’re still deciding on.

This also reduces impulse purchases, as you have time to think before moving the item to your main list. Over time, wishlists become a useful reference that fits naturally into your shopping flow.

Recipe ingredients

If you often cook at home, managing ingredients can get complicated. A great solution is to create recipe-based categories where you save entire meals or cooking ideas. You can also paste full recipe screens or ingredient lists that will appear instead of category icons.

When it’s time to shop or cook, just tap the category to enlarge the content for easy reference. This way, you don’t need to switch between apps or scroll through your phone to find that one dish.

It keeps your meal planning organized and saves time when preparing your list. With recipe categories, shopping and cooking become part of one seamless process.

Discounts & coupons

Tracking discounts and using coupons can quickly get messy without a proper system. By creating a dedicated discounts or coupons category, you can keep all deal-related items in one place. 

This helps you stay focused during your shopping trip and avoid forgetting about the savings you planned to use.

You can even use this category to separate limited-time offers from your usual items, making it easier to prioritize. If you regularly shop at multiple stores, you can create separate discount categories for each one. This way, you make the most of available deals without cluttering your main list.