Albertsons launches new flash grocery service

Albertsons Companies has launched its Flash grocery service to more than 2,000 store locations. The service expedites customers’ DriveUp & Go and delivery orders in as little as 30 minutes. The new service is now available to the Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, ACME, and Tom Thumb banner stores. 

Shoppers can select up to 35 Flash-eligible items and if Flash delivery is chosen, the order will be delivered within a 30- to 50-minute window. Flash pickup also allows customers to pick up their groceries at their local store within 30 minutes or less. 

“Shoppers today want fast pickup and delivery, and Albertsons is meeting this expectation with our new Flash service,” said Stephen Menaquale, senior vice president of ecommerce and fulfillment for Albertsons Cos. 

Flash pickup and delivery are offered through the Albertsons Cos websites and mobile apps which are set to mirror in-store pricing. Members of the grocer’s FreshPass program also receive unlimited grocery delivery service with member-only perks and will receive free Flash pickup service and a discounted Flash delivery fee. All other customers can utilize Flash pickup at full price (Flash pickup is $3.95 per order, while Flash delivery costs $11.95 per order).

Albertsons Cos. recently updated its digital offerings with FreshPass in August 2021, which included integrated savings and a delivery app dubbed Deals & Delivery. It also retooled its loyalty program based on its supermarket banners.

Related:Albertsons releases 2023 ESG report

FreshPass was created to give members exclusive perks and unlimited free online grocery delivery. Customers can sign up for a $99 annual membership or a $12.99 monthly subscription. 

The new Flash service is the next step to increasing membership goals. Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran told shareholders during the company’s annual general meeting in early August that the company will continue to deepen its digital connection and engagement with customers “with our [Just for U] loyalty membership growing to over 35 million members, FreshPass enrollment increasing 85%, Drive Up & Go operating in 2,150 stores and providing two hour or less delivery in 80% of our store locations by year-end 2022.”