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Supervalu inks reseller pact with Instacart

Distributor eyes e-commerce services for independent grocers and others

Russell Redman

June 21, 2018

2 Min Read
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Supervalu Inc. is looking to help independent supermarkets and other retailers get going with online grocery shopping and delivery.

Late yesterday, Supervalu unveiled a reseller pact with San Francisco-based grocery e-commerce specialist Instacart. The deal enables the food distributor and retailer to offer online shopping and on-demand delivery services to the 3,300-plus independent grocers it supplies as well as to stores in the more than 240 metropolitan areas where Instacart operates.

Supervalu noted that the agreement expands its professional services and digital capabilities, which in turn will help its retailer customers serve more consumers, more often — without point-of-sale integrations or extra labor costs and at a limited capital investment.

Through the relationship with Instacart, the distributor said it can offer independents and other retailers such benefits as contracted pricing, placement on Instacart.com, and e-commerce marketing expertise and support.

“Consumers today want the ability to shop for food and groceries anytime and anywhere,” said Tom Kraus, vice president of digital at Minneapolis-based Supervalu. “Instacart allows retailers to meet customers when and where they want to buy with delivery in as little as one hour.”

Related:Supervalu eyes shift to holding company structure

Instacart’s solution is designed as a turnkey platform for retailers to provide same-day delivery and store pickup of groceries. Through the Instacart website or mobile app, customers fill a virtual shopping cart with items from their local stores and designate a delivery or pickup time, which can be in as soon as an hour. Instacart personal shoppers hand-pick the items and deliver them to the customer’s door or prepare them for pickup.

Since launching in 2012, Instacart has partnered with leading food retailers across North America, including national and regional chains as well as local grocers.

"Instacart's success is driven by offering communities a same-day grocery delivery experience from the stores they love," said Nilam Ganenthiran, chief business officer for Instacart. "We are proud to offer our services to Supervalu’s independent retail stores to give customers a convenient, time-saving option to get the products they have come to rely on from their beloved neighborhood brands."

Supervalu said its e-commerce services include consulting, websites, mobile apps and loyalty programs, among other tools. The company’s retail network encompasses 3,323 stores supplied by its food distribution arm plus and 114 traditional supermarkets under the Cub Foods, Hornbacher’s and Shoppers banners.

Related:Supervalu closes sale of block of Farm Fresh stores

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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