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Smart Foodservice Warehouse launches Shipt delivery

Smart & Final banner extends reach with same-day service

Russell Redman

July 11, 2019

2 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

Smart & Final Stores Inc.’s Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores has brought same-day delivery via Shipt to 15 markets across the West.

Delivery from Smart Foodservice Warehouse locations began Thursday in Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland, Ore., as well as in selected cities in the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah.

Shipt noted that the rollout extends its service to the $731 billion foodservice industry. Smart Foodservice Warehouse customers such as caterers, restaurateurs, coffee shops and other small businesses — along with households — can now get ingredients and restaurant supplies delivered to their door in as soon as one hour.

“Smart Foodservice is committed to providing our customers with a seamless shopping experience, whether that’s in-store or through convenient delivery via Shipt,” John Mathews, vice president of sales and marketing for Smart Foodservice Warehouse, said in a statement. “We offer more than 8,000 products to our longstanding customers, many of whom are independently owned small businesses who rely on us for convenience without sacrificing quality and consistency of food products and supplies.”

To use the service, Smart Foodservice Warehouse customers place their orders via the retailer’s site on the Shipt online marketplace or the Shipt app. Shipt personal shoppers pick, pack and deliver the items. Customers signing up for a $99 annual membership get access to free, unlimited delivery for orders of more than $35.

Related:Smart & Final becomes private company

Shipt said that it plans to bolsters to its network of personal shoppers in the area to help support the launch at Smart Foodservice Warehouse. In addition, the Birmingham, Ala.-based delivery company is offering first-time users a free two-week trial.

“Many small-business owners across the western United States trust Smart Foodservice for high-quality wholesale goods at a low price,” commented Kelly Caruso, CEO of Shipt, a Target Corp. subsidiary. “By partnering with Smart Foodservice, we are able to provide convenience and ease to an important sector of restaurateurs, caterers, event planners and more who often order in bulk.”

Portland, Ore.-based Smart Foodservice operates 67 warehouse-style retail stores in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah.

The launch at Smart Foodservice expands Smart & Final’s relationship with Shipt, whose service made its debut at Smart & Final banner stores in April. Smart & Final also offers same-day delivery via San Francisco-based Instacart, including through more than 90% of its stores in California.

Related:Smart & Final, Instacart expand partnership in California

Overall, Commerce, Calif.-based Smart & Final — which went private in a $1.12 billion buyout last month — operates 324 stores, including 257 Smart & Final Extra! and legacy Smart & Final locations.

Smart Foodservice has been a growth driver for Smart & Final. The format offers a “no-frills” warehouse retail setting that mainly targets business customers, such as restaurants, catering companies and other foodservice businesses. Net sales for Smart Foodservice rose 5.6% to $1.07 billion in fiscal 2018, while comparable-store results were up 3.6%.

During fiscal 2019, Smart & Final plans to open four Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores and one Smart & Final Extra! 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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