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…
eCommerce Heats up In India: Flipkart v. Amazon
Flipkart, hot off raising $1 Billion in its second funding round has gained the attention of retailing behemoth Amazon. Shortly after Flipkart’s achievement, Amazon announced it would invest $2 Billion to expand business in India, building five new warehouses. Jeff Bezos commented on the investment, saying Amazon sees “huge potential in the Indian economy and for the growth of eCommerce in India.” The Indian eCommerce market is projected to reach $50 Billion by 2020, and both Flipkart and Amazon see themselves as being the major eCommerce provider. Flipkart is similar to Amazon and Alibaba, hosting a website with 3rd party sellers, merchandising everything from books to power drills. The platform is desirable to many sellers, as it provides an entry point to the Indian marketplace…
Best-Loved Grocers: What is your Store of Choice?
Is there a grocery store that you consistently shop at? Do you make sure to stop by a particular store that may not be in your direct area? If yes is your answer to either of these questions, why did you decide to go to these places? According to MarketingDaily, the reasons why you may have decided to spend your money at these places are based upon the quality of products that are offered at the stores as well as the name recognition of that particular chain. Shoppers today are always looking to find the best deals possible to maximize their savings while continuing their trend of demanding high quality products. Are trips to any of these stores in your weekly routine? Best-Loved Grocers: Hy-Vee,…
Bike Deliveries from Whole Foods Brooklyn
Brooklyn’s Whole Foods is adding another green advancement to its initiatives already in place, including wind turbines and an on-site greenhouse. Launching this summer, the Whole Foods on 3rd and Third will make deliveries using specially designed bikes with solar powered units to keep food temperature-controlled. The bikes will replace delivery vans, and will not only reduce the carbon impact of deliveries, they will expedite deliveries as drivers don’t have to search for parking spaces. A win-win! Brooklyn Whole Foods Now Makes Bike Deliveries Cities like New York are making it cool to bike again as commuters ditch their expensive cars for pedal power. It isn’t just the average office worker who is getting a two-wheeled workout though. A Whole Foods market in Brooklyn has…
True Convenience Shopping, Brought To You By Tech Titans
Is a convenience store truly convenient? Think about it: you have to leave the comfort of your home to make a purchase from a limited selection, likely driving to reach the store. If you drove an extra few minutes, you probably could make it to a bigger store that carries the exact item you need, instead of a substitution. The trade-off of time vs selection dictates these transactions. It’s an annoyingly common conundrum; you have to interrupt your life to pick up something. Same-day delivery promises to change that, bringing needed items to you, quickly and conveniently. Amazon recently unveiled plans to take same-day delivery one step further, using algorithms to predict demand and move items closer to you for faster delivery. The algorithms allow…
Eat Better, Live Better with Eataly
Have you ever walked into a grocery store and found a product that you had never seen before? Would you have any idea how to prepare and serve that item on your own? At Eataly, you have the option of learning more about the high quality items available for purchase in the store before you head home. With many different chefs and food experts located throughout the store, receiving the answers to your questions has never been easier. With over 700 associates in stores ranging from vegetable butchers to wine experts, no question you have will be left unanswered. High quality products partnered with a knowledgeable and skilled workforce, Eataly is sure to make a positive impact on the in-store grocery shopping experience. Eataly Chicago…
Japanese Electronic Firms Turn to High-Tech Farming
Facing stiff competition from their Chinese and Korean counterparts, Japanese electronic companies are putting idle factories to new use: farming. Shuttered facilities that used to produce floppy disks or more recently, micro-chips, are now growing produce in high-tech sterilized conditions. The Wall Street Journal reports that Fujitsu is selling lettuce from a plant in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Toshiba is growing vegetables in a plant near Tokyo, and Sharp is testing growing strawberries in Dubai. Panasonic is catering to this newly created market, and will be selling computer-controlled greenhouses to grow spinach and other vegetables. This shift is supported by the Japanese government, who fears that the current agricultural structure in Japan is unsustainable. Today, most farming is done by aging families on small plots of land,…
America’s Most Patriotic Brands
With the 4th of July upon us, Americans around the world will be getting into a more patriotic mood than usual. With this increased sense of patriotism in the air, the question of what the most patriotic brand might be in the country arises. Brands that are able to keep consumers engaged here in the United States have been able to create an emotional bridge between consumers and products. When a consumer can connect an experience that they have had to a product is very influential on whether or not they believe that a brand is in fact patriotic. Which of the brands from this years list are you a fan of? Celebrating America’s Most Patriotic Brands It’s a fair bet that lots of consumers…
Will You Be Having a Hot Dog This 4th of July Weekend?
Grilling outside with family and friends has become a common tradition for many people during the 4th of July holiday in the United States. Many of the items that can be found sizzling on grills throughout the country include hamburgers, chicken, steak, and most importantly hot dogs. The hot dog has become a a staple during the summer and the 4th of July. But what is it that makes the hot dog so special? The convenience, customization, and affordability have all added to the unique experience that comes with having a hot dog. With many new types and variations of hot dogs coming out that are readily available for purchase for the holiday weekend, what type of hot dog will be served at your cookout?…
Snack Attack: America’s Snacking Obession
Snacking turns 100 this year, and Americans are celebrating by consuming more snacks than ever. 56% of US consumers snack three or more times a day, a marked increase from 20% in the 1990s and 10% in the 1970s. What originally began at fairs and ballgames is now a national pastime, reports the Wall Street Journal. In 2013, healthy snack categories, like nutritional snacks and trail mixes, grew 9.9% YOY. Contrast this number with the tepid growth seen in soup, at 0.4%. Consumers reach for different snacks depending on the time of day. In the morning, fruit and dairy are most popular, while sweets and salty snacks pick up volume in the afternoon and evening. The rise of snacking and the decline of more traditional…