From Pantry to Profits: 5 Moneymaking Grocery Categories for Amazon Sellers

The dollar store grocery category offers a treasure trove of potential flips for Amazon sellers. But with so many options, it’s easy to get swept away and start listing everything in sight, without considering logistics and long-term profit potential. As a new seller, I fell into that trap myself. But through trial and error, I discovered the value of niching down and focusing on categories where I could truly thrive. Here are five grocery categoriesavailable at all dollar stores I recommend you consider:

• Canned Goods – With their longer shelf lives, canned goods are great products to consider selling on Amazon. From beans to meats to vegetables, canned options are plentiful in the dollar store. Most canned goods are pantry staples, making them attractive to a broad spectrum of buyers. When considering canned goods to sell, select relatively light products (ie, less than a pound) that do not have noticeable exterior damage (like dents or chips).

• Boxed Cookies – Cookies are always an in-demand product. Many buyers go to Amazon to locate hard-to-find or regional-specific cookies (which are commonly found in the dollar store). Another plus to selling cookies is the uptick in sales every holiday season, as many buyers are stocking up on sweet treats for holiday parties and gatherings. When analyzing which cookie products to sell, select those in enclosed boxes (vs soft packaging) to guarantee the product won’t crumble during shipping.

• Spices – Everyone needs spices and fortunately, they are plentiful in the dollar store. Most spices come in small packaging, which makes them ideal if you are someone planning to ship the items yourself. The more “exotic” the spice is to you, the better! If you come across spices you have never heard of, there is a strong likelihood they will appeal to a niche market of eager Amazon buyers. Just ensure there are plenty of months left before the spice expires, as many people buy spices to stock up their pantry and not necessarily for immediate use.

• Energy Drinks and Enhancers – Energy products are often available in abundance at dollar stores. Thanks to platforms like TikTok and Instagram, these products have become very popular. It is not uncommon for a product to go viral on these platforms, which results in Amazon being flooded with buyers willing to pay a premium for them. As with all products, ensure the expiration dates are valid and also that Amazon allows listing these products on their platform, as there are a few that contain ingredients that do not meet their product quality guidelines.

• Jarred Condiments, Sauces and Jellies – Jarred items such as olives, BBQ sauces and salsas, along with jam, jellies and chutneys can frequently be found in the grocery section of the dollar store and are great choices to sell on Amazon given their wide appeal. The dollar store often carries more niche products in this category (like keto-friendly, or sugar free), so their are options available for a variety of buyers. Jarred items can be fragile, as well as heavy, If the product weighs more than a pound, I recommend selling theme via FBA vs self-fulfillment, as Amazon has the logistics to properly pack and ship these items ensuring a smooth product shipping experience for the customer.

I hope my recommendations help give you direction when considering which products to sell. Ultimately, it will be up to you to determine which categories you want to sell in, however I recommend going “wide” and not “deep and offer your customer products that span a multitude of grocery categories. After all, more buyer options means more potential sales for you!