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Trader Joe’s to end grocery deliveries in New York City

Retailer cites cost, wide availability of other delivery services

Russell Redman

January 31, 2019

2 Min Read
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Trader Joe’s plans to cease grocery delivery services from its stores in Manhattan.

In an e-mail statement, Trader Joe’s said its seven stores in the city will end grocery deliveries effective March 1. The Monrovia, Calif.-based grocery chain, part of Germany-based Aldi Nord, cited cost and wide availability of other delivery services in the area as reasons for the move.

“When we originally introduced delivery, we had one store on 14th Street in Manhattan, options for outside delivery services were limited and ride-sharing meant hopping into a taxi with someone else. Today, there are seven Trader Joe’s stores across Manhattan, with more on the way, and services for transporting food and people abound,” Trader Joe’s stated.

“What hasn’t changed is our focus on providing our customers with the best-quality products for great, everyday prices,” the company said. “Instead of passing along unsustainable cost increases to our customers, removing delivery will allow us to continue offering outstanding values and to make better use of valuable space in our stores.”

At this time, Trader Joe’s doesn’t plan to launch grocery delivery in other markets, according to Business Insider, which first reported the retailer’s decision to stop grocery delivery service in Manhattan.

Related:Trader Joe’s takes top spot on grocery retailer ranking

Unlike other leading grocery retailers — such as Walmart, Whole Foods Market and Kroger, among others — Trader Joe’s doesn’t provide an online grocery shopping and delivery service. 

Currently, third-party services such as Postmates and Envoy deliver from Trader Joe’s in some states. 

Trader Joe’s boasts an extremely loyal base of customers and has no difficulty drawing shoppers to its stores, which in major metropolitan markets typically draw big crowds during prime hours. Overall, the retailer operates more than 470 locations in 43 states and Washington, D.C.

Earlier this week, a new study from facilities management company Vixxo found that 87% of consumers prefer to shop for groceries in stores, despite the rising array of options for buying online. Of over 1,260 U.S. consumers surveyed, 84% said they like being able to pick out their own products, and 60% prefer the experience of shopping in brick-and-mortar stores. In addition, 96% of Baby Boomers and 81% of Millennials polled indicated they favor the in-store experience to online for grocery shopping.

Still, the increasing rollout of delivery and pickup services is shifting online grocery sales more to brick-and-mortar retailers, according to Brick Meets Click. This year, companies that provide online grocery delivery and pickup on demand stand to grow sales 25% to 30%, the strategic advisory firm projected. Overall U.S. consumer spending online for groceries will rise an estimated 15% next year, lifting online share of grocery sales to 6.3%.

Related:Trader Joe’s rates high in customer experience, reports study

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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