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Albertsons Cos. to test online grocery pickup lockers

Pilots of new PickUp service slated for Jewel-Osco, Safeway locations

Russell Redman

October 19, 2020

2 Min Read
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The first PickUp lockers will be deployed at Jewel-Osco stores in the Chicago area, Albertsons said.Albertsons Cos.

Albertsons Cos. aims to give online grocery shoppers another contactless fulfillment option with a pilot of e-commerce pickup lockers at selected Jewel-Osco and Safeway supermarkets.

Albertsons said Monday that the new service, branded as PickUp, will use Bell and Howell modular, temperature-controlled lockers, which can be located indoors or outdoors. The Boise, Idaho-based grocer noted that individual columns in the modular setup can be adjusted to specific temperatures to preserve the freshness of a wide variety of grocery orders.

Customers in neighborhoods with stores offering the lockers will notice a new “PickUp” option when they shop online or via the mobile app. Those using the service select the PickUp option and then choose a time window to pick up their order. Upon completing their purchase, customers receive a unique code to use at the self-serve lockers to retrieve their groceries.

“Contactless PickUp through our state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled lockers makes it even easier to shop with us,” Chris Rupp, executive vice president and chief customer and digital officer at Albertsons Cos., said in a statement. “Whether customers choose to shop in our familiar neighborhood stores or through our websites and apps, we are ready to provide them with extraordinary service where and how they want to get their groceries. Our strategy to leverage technology and innovation to continue to grow our digital business is focused on creating products customers love that truly make their lives easier.”

Related:Save A Lot partners with Amazon for pickup, payment

Plans call for the PickUp lockers to launch first at Jewel-Osco locations in Chicago and then be deployed at Safeway locations in the Bay Area later this year, according to Albertsons.

“We are excited to partner with Albertsons Cos. to help them deliver a convenient and contactless pickup experience for their customers,” stated Larry Blue, CEO of Durham, N.C.-based Bell and Howell. “With our temperature-controlled grocery lockers, Albertsons Cos. customers can quickly and conveniently pick up their entire order, from heated to frozen food items, whenever and wherever they want.”

Albertsons has continued to expand its online grocery services, fueled by booming digital sales growth that jumped 276% year over year in its first quarter ended June 20, the company’s most recently completed reporting period. At the close of the quarter, the retailer had Drive Up & Go curbside service in 731 stores, up from 600 at the start of the fiscal year. Plans call for 1,400 sites by the end of the year and more than 1,600 within two years. Home delivery also is being expanded and is now available in 90% of stores through Instacart and Albertsons’ own delivery service, with the latter offered at nearly 65% of stores.

Related:Getting up close at Giant’s new e-commerce hub

Overall, Albertsons Cos. operates 2,252 retail stores (including 1,726 pharmacies and 402 fuel centers) in 34 states and the District of Columbia under such banners as Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw's, Star Market, United Supermarkets, Market Street and Haggen.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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