The Kroger Co. has announced that its Kroger Ship division will expand operations to offer consumers more options through a ship-to-home marketplace of third-party sellers using the software platform Mirakl. Through this partnership, Kroger Ship customers will initially have access to more than 50,000 additional items, and eligible orders will earn points through Kroger's loyalty program.
"Our customers are increasingly turning to our e-commerce solutions provided at Kroger.com for their grocery and household essential needs. To better serve our customers, we're continuing to invest in technology that enables us to expand our digital services to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere," said Jody Kalmbach, Kroger's group vice president of product experience. "Leveraging Mirakl's best-in-class marketplace solution, we are broadening Kroger's ship-to-home capabilities by offering more relevant products for our customers through exciting new partnerships with reputable third-party sellers."
Walmart is also enhancing its shipping options. CNBC reports that Walmart has partnered with Instacart in a pilot program to provide same-day delivery service to customers. The pilot program is reportedly occurring in markets in California and Oklahoma and would compete with Amazon and Whole Foods' Prime Delivery service, which is currently available in markets across the nation.
Operators should stay aware of how grocery chains are pivoting to best serve customers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, as many consumers are likely to grow accustomed to prompt delivery service for food and beverages.
