Webvan's founder is launching another online grocery business

Louis Borders' e-grocery company failed nearly twenty years ago, but that didn't dampen his ambition. Now he's back, and with an army of robots behind him.

By Jeff Wells • May 12, 2020

Smart & Final rolls out tech-enhanced checkout lines

The company will route shoppers into a socially distanced single line, where a digital screen will point them to the appropriate check stand.

By Jessica Dumont • May 12, 2020

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By Grocery Dive staff

Grocery Outlet posts strong Q1 sales

Company executives said growth has continued during the second quarter, as customers are spending more per trip even though store traffic remains below normal.

By Sam Silverstein • May 12, 2020

How companies are helping vulnerable shoppers

A growing number of retailers and service providers are concluding that dedicating store hours for pregnant, elderly, disabled and other at-risk shoppers is not enough.

By Krishna Thakker • May 11, 2020

Shipt launches digital coupons for shoppers

The grocery e-commerce provider will allow customers to redeem coupons from national advertisers when placing online orders for pickup and delivery.

By Sam Silverstein • May 11, 2020

Albertsons adds live chat to online platform

The grocer is counting on digital assistance to boost online customer service and offer more efficiency for e-commerce customers. 

By Jessica Dumont • May 7, 2020

Ahold Delhaize steps up e-commerce expansion as digital sales surge

The company said it will accelerate openings for home delivery warehouses and click-and-collect points as U.S. sales in the channel grew 42% in Q1.

By Jeff Wells • May 7, 2020

Positive messages are key to promoting social distancing, study finds

Signs that emphasize doing the right thing are more effective at changing shopper behavior than those that focus on stopping harmful activity, according to research involving 4,200 people.

By Sam Silverstein • May 7, 2020

Costco's sales pinched by safety restrictions

The retailer said mandatory social distancing measures, stay-at-home orders and the closure of some of its stores decreased April traffic and sales.

By Krishna Thakker • May 7, 2020

Hy-Vee adds two-hour 'express' pickup service

The new program, which charges $10 per order, comes as the grocer continues to add pickup slots as well as new products to its Aisles Online platform. 

By Jessica Dumont • May 7, 2020

Pandemic highlights the limits of store-based online fulfillment, experts say

The surge in online shopping has caused retailers to rethink their selling floors and backrooms, and to evaluate dedicated facilities.

By Sam Silverstein • May 6, 2020

Grocers are ramping up mobile checkout platforms

Retailers like Sam's Club, Wegmans, Fairway and Kroger are encouraging customers to adopt the technology as they promote contact-free shopping during the pandemic.

By Jessica Dumont • May 6, 2020

Sprouts records strong Q1 as it outlines long-term growth plan

The natural grocer intends to build smaller, less costly stores and focus on boosting sales among shoppers who are loyal to the chain.

By Sam Silverstein • May 6, 2020

Giant Food challenges shoppers to be #HealthyAtHome

The company will conduct a four-week campaign, led by its nutrition team, to encourage healthy eating and exercise among shoppers during COVID-19.  

By Jessica Dumont • May 5, 2020

Kroger brings the Impossible Burger to 1,700 stores

The introduction increases the grocer's assortment of plant-based alternatives as it grapples with a meat shortage due to COVID-19 outbreaks at production facilities.

By Megan Poinski , Jeff Wells • May 5, 2020

Social media engagement for grocery delivery skyrockets

Engagement has seen a 28,000% increase since the COVID-19 pandemic began, international social media analytics firm Talkwalker found. 

By Krishna Thakker • May 4, 2020

Grocers impose restrictions on meat and poultry purchases

Supermarket chains including Kroger, H-E-B and Albertsons are taking steps to prevent shortages as meat and poultry processors battle COVID-19.

By Sam Silverstein • May 4, 2020

Pardon the Disruption: As states reopen and supply chains normalize, grocers must tighten safety measures

The pressure on retailers to relax safety measures will grow in the months ahead, but they should not deviate from CDC guidance and probably err on the side of being overly strict.

By Jeff Wells • May 4, 2020

Kroger gets social

The retailer will host a month of virtual events to engage shoppers and promote private label products.

By Jessica Dumont • May 1, 2020

Amazon Q1 sales soar but profits tumble

The company's e-commerce prowess was undermined in the first quarter, with low margins and high costs rendering a sales surge almost moot. 

By Daphne Howland • May 1, 2020

Whole Foods to provide face masks to customers

News the grocer will ask, but not require, shoppers to cover their faces comes on the heels of the announcement of a May Day strike among some of its workers and employees of Amazon, Instacart and Shipt.

By Sam Silverstein • May 1, 2020

Albertsons says 243% coronavirus e-commerce boom can become long-term growth engine

Online sales surged in Q1, and CEO Vivek Sankaran said the company is freeing up bottlenecks to capitalize on new customer sales.  

By Jeff Wells • April 30, 2020

Some grocery workers getting daily paychecks

Kroger and Leevers Supermarkets are among a handful of retailers using a platform that gives employees real-time access to their earnings.

By Jessica Dumont • April 30, 2020

Costco will require all shoppers to wear face coverings

The company will also resume normal hours at most of its stores beginning Monday, May 4.

By Jeff Wells • April 30, 2020

Shoppers are flouting grocers' one-way aisle rules

Getting customers to follow all of the new safety guidelines has been challenging for retailers, but shoppers seem to be disregarding directional policies with particular abandon.

By Sam Silverstein • April 30, 2020