Boxed in-house robot cart feature

Boxed Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

| Mike O'Brien

Boxed, purveyor of bulk home products that likened itself to an online Costco, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after failing to find a buyer and enduring sustained weak revenue and earnings, a far cry from the promise of its SPAC IPO in December 2021. An affiliate of its main creditor may purchase its software service.

E-Grocery Sales Continue to Drop

| Mike O'Brien

Domestic e-grocery sales continued to fall from pandemic-fueled highs, decreasing 10% in November to $7.7 billion, down slightly from $7.8 billion the two prior months, according to Brick Meets Click/Mercatus. Fewer households are buying groceries online, combined with lower order frequency and smaller basket sizes among regular shoppers.

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Getting Grocers to a Clicks-Bricks Balance

| Rachael Hadaway

When a customer tries e-grocery shopping for the first time, they’re likely starting a critical step in their online grocery journey, underscoring the importance of the omnichannel shift. That means retailers must design digital products and service experiences that promote customer engagement online and minimize cart abandonment.

DoorDash courier feature

DoorDash Promises 10-15-Minute Delivery in NYC

| Mike O'Brien

Utilizing a team of employees vs. its bread-and-butter gig workers, DoorDash is rolling out 10-15-minute delivery of 2,000 grocery and essential items in New York from a DashMart store in the Chelsea neighborhood, the company said. Main rival Instacart is also working on a 15-minute delivery service, according to reports.

Fabric MFC feature

MFC Firm Fabric Joins the Unicorn Club With $200M Raise

| Mike O'Brien

Fabric, maker of automated systems for on-demand micro fulfillment in urban settings, has raised a fresh $200 million, bringing its valuation above the vaunted $1 billion mark as it looks to expand to new markets beyond its current operations in Washington, DC, New York and its launch site of Tel Aviv.

e-grocery curbside Walmart feature

E-Grocery Frequency Increasing, Gallup Finds

| Mike O'Brien

Even a year-plus into the pandemic, more U.S. consumers are leaning into e-grocery and less are visiting stores, according to a new study from Gallup, reflecting continued uncertainty and concern among shoppers. Overall, the percentages of consumers using e-grocery remain in the single digits.

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Omnichannel Grocery Shoppers Spend 20% More

| Mike O'Brien

Omnichannel grocery shoppers spend on average 20% more and shop more frequently compared to those that just visit the store, according to new research from Symphony RetailAI. The survey also found that while half of first-time e-grocery shoppers made a single online purchase, the other half become highly engaged and loyal.

U.S. E-Grocery Sales Hit $9.3B in January

| Mike O'Brien

As consumer dollars keep shifting online generally in the pandemic, e-grocery in the U.S. continues to explode, hitting a high of $9.3 billion in January, up 15% from November, according to a survey conducted by Mercatus/Brick Meet Click. Home delivery and store/curbside pickup represented 77% of the total.

Ahold Giant MFC feature

Ahold Delhaize Steps Up Automation Efforts

| Mike O'Brien

Ahold Delhaize, the Netherlands-based grocery conglomerate that owns Stop & Shop, Giant and other U.S. chains, plans to pilot micro-fulfillment technology at one of Giant’s fulfillment centers in Philadelphia as it competes with Kroger’s e-fulfillment model using tech partner Ocado.

FreshDirect truck feature

Ahold Delhaize Acquires Majority Stake in FreshDirect

| Mike O'Brien

Dutch supermarket company Ahold Delhaize, owner of Giant and Stop & Shop, has acquired a majority stake in Bronx, NY-based delivery provider FreshDirect, giving it a leg up on ecommerce fulfillment as e-grocery is exploding amid the pandemic. Centerbridge Partners is also acquiring a 20% stake in FreshDirect.