6 strategies for grocers preparing for the new e-commerce future

Retail experts share insights into how food retailers can retool their online operations in response to the pandemic.

By Sam Silverstein , Jeff Wells • May 26, 2020

What do consumers want from online grocery? The answer is simpler than you think

E-commerce does not need to be convenient, fun or filled with robots, writes Chicory's Hillary Reeves. The pandemic has shown it just must be reliable as well as essential.

By Hillary Reeves • May 22, 2020

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Target resumes grocery pickup pilot

The retailer had paused the rollout of fresh, frozen and refrigerated grocery items to its Drive Up program back in March when the pandemic hit.

By Jeff Wells • May 21, 2020

Imperfect Foods lands $72M in Series C funding

The money will go toward fueling the company's U.S. expansion, improving technology and increasing capabilities at fulfillment centers as demand surges during the pandemic.

By Jessica Dumont • May 20, 2020

Target's 141% digital growth during pandemic pushes sales and costs up

A booming top line masks the volatility in the retailer's business as the pandemic forced extreme changes on an incredibly short timeline. 

By Ben Unglesbee • May 20, 2020

Walmart nixes Jet as pandemic shopping pushes digital sales up 74%

Costs and sales surged as the COVID-19 crisis brought "the broadest set of challenges we've ever seen globally" to the retail giant during Q1.

By Ben Unglesbee • May 19, 2020

Study: Shoppers flee their primary grocer, some for good

A McKinsey survey found that 20% of customers have switched stores during COVID-19, mainly due to out-of-stocks and a desire for a better e-commerce experience. 

By Krishna Thakker • May 18, 2020

Whole Foods continues to open online-only 'dark' stores

The retailer converted a Chicago store to delivery service only on Wednesday. The location is the sixth one it has dedicated to filling e-commerce orders amid record demand.

By Jeff Wells • May 14, 2020

Instacart delivery times stabilize

After weeks of delivery delays and limited time slots, the company reported 90% of its orders last week were delivered same-day or next-day.

By Jessica Dumont • May 14, 2020

Publix launches prescription delivery

The retailer is providing the service to shoppers at all of its pharmacy locations and plans to continue to offer it after the pandemic subsides.

By Krishna Thakker • May 14, 2020

Grocers' fulfillment struggles are a windfall for online startups

Companies like Thrive Market and Imperfect Foods are racing to accommodate new shoppers and focused on keeping them long term.

By Jeff Wells • May 13, 2020

Webvan's founder is launching another online grocery business

Louis Borders' e-grocery company failed nearly twenty years ago, but that didn't dampen his ambition. Now he's back, and with an army of robots behind him.

By Jeff Wells • May 12, 2020

Why PepsiCo launched 2 new direct-to-consumer sites

Snacks.com and PantryShop.com are part of the company's efforts to meet consumers where they shop, as e-commerce becomes a bigger part of their buying habits. 

By Christopher Doering • May 12, 2020

Target to acquire Deliv tech as the last-mile startup shuts down

The retailer will use Deliv's proprietary batching and routing technology to research and develop more efficient delivery methods.​

By Matt Leonard • May 11, 2020

How companies are helping vulnerable shoppers

A growing number of retailers and service providers are concluding that dedicating store hours for pregnant, elderly, disabled and other at-risk shoppers is not enough.

By Krishna Thakker • May 11, 2020

Shipt launches digital coupons for shoppers

The grocery e-commerce provider will allow customers to redeem coupons from national advertisers when placing online orders for pickup and delivery.

By Sam Silverstein • May 11, 2020

Albertsons adds live chat to online platform

The grocer is counting on digital assistance to boost online customer service and offer more efficiency for e-commerce customers. 

By Jessica Dumont • May 7, 2020

Ahold Delhaize steps up e-commerce expansion as digital sales surge

The company said it will accelerate openings for home delivery warehouses and click-and-collect points as U.S. sales in the channel grew 42% in Q1.

By Jeff Wells • May 7, 2020

Hy-Vee adds two-hour 'express' pickup service

The new program, which charges $10 per order, comes as the grocer continues to add pickup slots as well as new products to its Aisles Online platform. 

By Jessica Dumont • May 7, 2020

Pandemic highlights the limits of store-based online fulfillment, experts say

The surge in online shopping has caused retailers to rethink their selling floors and backrooms, and to evaluate dedicated facilities.

By Sam Silverstein • May 6, 2020

Social media engagement for grocery delivery skyrockets

Engagement has seen a 28,000% increase since the COVID-19 pandemic began, international social media analytics firm Talkwalker found. 

By Krishna Thakker • May 4, 2020

Walmart adds 2-hour delivery service

The retailer will lean on its vast store network and existing delivery partners to execute speedy last-mile deliveries. 

By Shefali Kapadia • May 1, 2020

Albertsons says 243% coronavirus e-commerce boom can become long-term growth engine

Online sales surged in Q1, and CEO Vivek Sankaran said the company is freeing up bottlenecks to capitalize on new customer sales.  

By Jeff Wells • April 30, 2020

Online grocery reaches new heights in April

Delivery and pickup sales rose 37% over March to $5.3 billion as customers avoided stores in the face of the pandemic, a new survey from Brick Meets Click and Symphony RetailAI shows.

By Sam Silverstein • April 29, 2020

Ocado launches first fulfillment center in North America

The automated facility, located near Toronto, has begun testing order fulfillment for Sobeys' new e-commerce service, Voilà.  

By Jessica Dumont • April 28, 2020