CHICAGO – Grocery executives told investors at a Goldman Sachs conference that most shoppers are making fewer trips to the supermarket because of high gasoline prices; however, when consumers set out to purchase groceries, they are loading their carts and spending more, reports Reuters.

Supervalu Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Jeffrey Noddle commented during the conference that he believes “there is a lag time when consumer behavior will change,” adding that shoppers are visiting Supervalu stores less, but spending more on their trips, notes the news source.

Echoing Noddle’s remarks, Safeway Chairman and CEO Steve Burd noted at the conference, “They're [consumers] putting more in the basket when they come to our stores, and they’re giving more trips to our stores.… We and other supermarkets are more conveniently located.”

During the conference, grocery executives commented that customers may choose where to shop based on how close a store is to their home rather than drive to larger stores such as Wal-Mart, “which might require a longer trip.”

Meanwhile, Eduardo Castro-Wright, CEO of Wal-Mart’s U.S. discount stores, said during the conference that its shoppers are more likely to make one big shopping trip on a weekend to stock-up rather than make multiple shopping trips throughout the week.

According to Pathmark CEO John Standley, the timing of customer visits is changing. “I think we are seeing a little bit of a shift in our business toward the first of the month when government assistance comes out so there probably is some pressure there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pathmark CFO Frank Vitrano told investors that some shoppers are switching to lower-priced items instead of purchasing prepared meals, noting that consumers who are “trading down” can be a benefit, writes Reuters.

“It's kind of a two-edged sword because while some people are tightening it up, they also may be tightening up with restaurants and moving back into us,” Vitrano said at the conference.