The Providence Journal reports that online grocery service Peapod, owned by Ahold, has experienced 20 percent sales increases during the past year in the selected markets where it is available, and currently has some 270,000 regular customers.
But according to analysts interviewed by the Journal, part of the reason for the increase isn’t just the desire for convenience, but a kind of fear.
“Trend spotters maintain that a variety of factors coinciding with advances in technology have helped create the new homebodies,” the paper reports. “With Amber alerts, bird flu and the continuing effects of 9/11, the world outside the front door can seem more dangerous,” and the “recent deaths and illnesses of thousands of dogs and cats from tainted pet food were a vivid reminder of the new age of risk.”
But according to analysts interviewed by the Journal, part of the reason for the increase isn’t just the desire for convenience, but a kind of fear.
“Trend spotters maintain that a variety of factors coinciding with advances in technology have helped create the new homebodies,” the paper reports. “With Amber alerts, bird flu and the continuing effects of 9/11, the world outside the front door can seem more dangerous,” and the “recent deaths and illnesses of thousands of dogs and cats from tainted pet food were a vivid reminder of the new age of risk.”
- KC's View:
- If true, this is a shame. Understandable, but a shame.
