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Cub Foods balances online, in-store shopping experiences

Midwestern grocer upgrades e-commerce ordering, delivery capabilities

Russell Redman

November 3, 2021

3 Min Read
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Cub said it improved the way pickup and delivery orders are handled to better meet customers’ needs throughout the transaction.Cub Foods

Cub Foods has revamped its online grocery ordering process to incorporate in-store shopping benefits.

To that end, Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub said Wednesday it has enhanced the way pickup and delivery orders are handled to better meet customers’ needs throughout the entire transaction. The top change: Online shoppers now can use their MyCub rewards card to gain access to exclusive store promotions, preloaded savings and digital coupons on hundreds of products. They also can earn fuel reward points on all purchases for redemption at participating Holiday Stationstores gas/convenience locations.

With the updated online experience, each order is shopped locally at each store by a fully trained dedicated team of Cub associates, the retailer noted. Delivery drivers are trained to prevent bruising, spilling and tipping of groceries during transit, and customer service needs are handled directly at the store filling the order. In addition, each online order now comes with a printed receipt.

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Online shoppers now can use their MyCub card to access to exclusive promotions, preloaded savings and digital coupons and earn fuel reward points.

“Today’s consumer is busier than ever, and they shouldn’t be treated differently if they can’t find time to purchase their groceries physically in one of our stores,” Chad Bersie, director of e-commerce at Cub Foods, said in a statement. “Our new online grocery pickup and delivery experience allows us to better deliver on our ‘My Cub, My Way’ promise, giving customers who shop at Cub access to the same benefits and experience whether they prefer shopping in our stores or online through curbside pickup or home delivery.”

Related:Minnesota governors get COVID boosters at Cub Foods

Cub also has bolstered its grocery delivery capability with last-mile partner Capstone Logistics. As with the Cub Wine & Spirits and Liquor store home delivery service, Capstone will facilitate grocery deliveries through its network of independent drivers and its MileZero platform, which automates the fulfillment process. Delivery drivers will don the Cub logo on their uniform for identification, and customers will get a text notification with a link to track their delivery driver’s location, according to Cub.

Currently, Peachtree Corners, Ga.-based Capstone has a network of 300 independent contractors to make deliveries from Cub’s 79 supermarkets and 28 Wine & Spirits and Liquor stores in Minnesota.

“Our grocery delivery solution provides the technology and logistics execution retailers need to offer omnichannel fulfillment,” according to Jon Rydel, executive vice president of Capstone’s Last Mile division. “As online grocery sales continue to skyrocket, improving service needs to be a priority, and with Capstone Last Mile, retailers can offer their own branded solution that improves the total customer experience.”

Related:Cub Foods eyes crisper produce operations

Cub customers can schedule pickup and delivery orders from their local store 14 days in advance. The grocer said that through Saturday, Nov. 13, it will waive pickup and delivery fees. Thereafter, MyCub Rewards members making $50 online purchase get free pickup and pay a $9.99 fee for delivery, with no extra service or convenience fees.

A business unit of grocery distributor United Natural Foods Inc., Cub Foods has a retail network of 80 supermarkets, primarily in the Twin Cities market, with one Illinois store.

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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