Sysco kicks off online grocery service in Canada

Sysco Canada, a subsidiary of foodservice distribution giant Sysco Corp., has launched an online grocery service called Sysco@HOME.

The click-and-collect program lets Canadians order food, household and cleaning products in bulk at syscoathome.ca, choose a pickup time and then retrieve their groceries at a nearby Sysco location. Orders will be brought out and loaded into customers’ vehicles when they arrive.

Sysco@HOME’s product categories include dairy, dry grocery, beverages, fresh produce, frozen foods and prepared meals, meat, poultry, seafood, household supplies, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and special diet items. Offerings, which come in bulk sizes, may vary depending on location. Free delivery also is available for orders of more than $300.

Sysco@HOME is available in all major cities across Canada. Sysco noted that the program offers consumers a safe way to buy restaurant-quality groceries from home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company said Canadian communities are experiencing a 38% increase, on average, in retail grocery shopping because of social distancing behaviors.

“With Sysco@HOME, consumers can purchase high-quality grocery items, providing both a convenient source for grocery staples that may currently be hard to find and a great opportunity to elevate your at-home food experience,” Sysco Canada President Randy White said in a statement. “As a part of our ‘Foodies Unite’ initiative, Sysco Canada will also donate 15 meals for every Sysco@HOME grocery order to hunger relief organizations through May 4, 2020.”

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Sysco@HOME lets Canadians order food, household and cleaning products in bulk, choose a pickup time and then retrieve their groceries at a nearby Sysco location.

Sysco Canada said Foodies Unite, launched at the end of March, marks the company’s effort to “help heal the food industry in Canada.” Under the program, the foodservice distributor aims to leverage its supply chain to provide services to the retail grocery sector, help restaurant customers adapt to the business impact from COVID-19 and supply meals to those most in need.

Before social distancing orders were instituted across Canada to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, up to half of many Canadians’ meals were eaten outside the home through foodservice industry-supplied venues such as restaurants, pubs, hotels and education and sports facilities, according to Sysco. As a result, more families are now eating at home more often, and the surging consumer demand for groceries has overwhelmed the retail supply chain’s ability to keep store shelves stocked, the company said.

“As an essential service, it’s time for us to step out from behind the scenes so we can all step up for Canada. Even while we all focus on practicing proper social distancing, we believe Canadians can unite to heal the foodservice industry and bring us all back together, stronger than ever,” White commented when Foodies Unite was launched.

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Through April 15, Foodies Unite donated more than 3.3 million meals overall to Canadian food banks and pantries, Sysco Canada said.

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