The Columbus Dispatch reports on the re-emergence of online shopping being offered by central Ohio brick-and-mortar food retailers, with Buehler’s Fresh Foods in Delaware offering Internet ordering and customer pick-up…the third Buehler’s store to provide the expanded service.
At the same time, the Dispatch writes, “Meijer plans to test its own online shopping plan in its Westerville store in October … Meijer, which already offers online shopping for bulk, nonperishable grocery products, will roll out its Grocery Express program locally.” Meijer also is using a customer pick-up model, according to the story.
According to the story, part of the impetus for the new development comes from concerns that other competitors in the area might do the same thing and get an advantage, though Giant Eagle and Kroger have not announced any plans. And the big concern is that Walmart – which offers a plethora of food product information on its site, but not online grocery shopping – could make the move, as has often been rumored.
Full disclosure: Buehler’s online grocery shopping service was developed and is maintained by MyWebGrocer, a MorningNewsBeat sponsor.
At the same time, the Dispatch writes, “Meijer plans to test its own online shopping plan in its Westerville store in October … Meijer, which already offers online shopping for bulk, nonperishable grocery products, will roll out its Grocery Express program locally.” Meijer also is using a customer pick-up model, according to the story.
According to the story, part of the impetus for the new development comes from concerns that other competitors in the area might do the same thing and get an advantage, though Giant Eagle and Kroger have not announced any plans. And the big concern is that Walmart – which offers a plethora of food product information on its site, but not online grocery shopping – could make the move, as has often been rumored.
Full disclosure: Buehler’s online grocery shopping service was developed and is maintained by MyWebGrocer, a MorningNewsBeat sponsor.
- KC's View:
- Everything I’ve read suggests that retailers offering the pick-up model – as opposed to the delivery model – tend to find such programs to be both successful and profitable…and it would be my expectation that they will only get more so. With every day that passes, the generation that is used to only buying online gets closer to the center of the target…and so retailers that resist the trend risk a certain kind of irrelevance.
