Business Insider reports that Kroger has closed down one of nits Cincinnati stores and turned it into a pickup-only location. The story says that Kroger "is testing the pickup-only store model in response to surging demand for its online grocery services amid the coronavirus outbreak," and calls it a "brilliant strategy."
The pickup-only store should help both customers and employees to properly distance themselves and thus potentially reduce the likelihood of further pandemic spread. In addition, the location should be able to be more efficient at fulfillment of online orders without having to compete with more traditional store operations.
- KC's View:
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If it works, and if the online business maintains its strength once the current pandemic madness has subsided, it seems likely that Kroger - and other companies - could use this model elsewhere and going forward where and when appropriate.
