Consumers without easy access to grocery stores will be able to shop for the products that they need thanks to the relaunch of a great program. In the city of Baltimore, the segment of the population that does not have easy access to grocery stores will have an efficient option to make the process of getting groceries much easier. Through the Virtual Supermarket run by ShopRite, with help from the United Way and the Walmart Foundation, orders can be placed online and dropped off at different locations throughout the city at no additional cost to the customer. There are many communities throughout the country that lack the access to grocery and other food stores. Not only can a program like this help under-served areas, but it can also help elderly citizens who may find the online shopping tool easier than trying to shop for themselves in a traditional store. Hopefully a program like this will lead to future development of similar programs in locations throughout the country.
Baltimore is relaunching grocery delivery to neighborhoods without stores
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Paul Taggart
ShopRite Holdings Ltd. has partnered with Baltimore to relaunch the city’s Virtual Supermarket program.
Deputy Managing Editor-Baltimore Business Journal
Baltimore on Wednesday will resume offering a program that lets residents order groceries online and pick them up in areas that lack grocery stores.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is scheduled to announce the relaunching of the city’s Virtual Supermarket program at noon Wednesday. She will be joined by Dr.Jacquelyn Duval-Harvey, the city’s interim health commissioner, and officials from ShopRite Holdings Ltd., which will provide the food.
The city’s Virtual Supermarket program provided food delivery to more than 450 residents until October when Santoni’s Super Market closed. Santoni’s in Highlandtown was the only grocery store that participated in the program.
ShopRite has partnered with the city to relaunch the program, which is scheduled to begin delivering food immediately following Rawlings-Blake’s announcement. United Way of Central Maryland and the Walmart Foundation will cover the delivery costs. Delivery locations for the service in the past included senior citizens housing complexes and Enoch Pratt Free Library branches in Washington Village and on Orleans Street.
As Baltimore relaunches the Virtual Supermarket, it also is launching a new website, calledBaltimarket, which provides information about healthy food and where it can be found in the city.
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