Good Idea or Not? “Peapod Launches Grocery Pick-Up at (Some) Metro Stations”

courtesy Peapod

From a press release:

“Making lives easier for Washington D.C. area residents, Peapod by Giant announced today a first-of-its-kind offering that will allow shoppers to place their orders online and pick them up at one of three Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) stations: Fort Totten, Glenmont and Vienna. The new Metro Peapod service began February 1, 2016.

As the country’s leading online grocer, Peapod is committed to offering value, convenience, and time-savings to customers. Peapod will monitor this exciting pilot program closely for expansion opportunities in additional metropolitan markets.

“Today there’s no one-size-fits-all for food shopping, so we offer flexibility,” said Jennifer Carr Smith, President of Peapod. “Working with Giant allows us to be that trusted resource that can deliver to your home, offer a quick pick-up option or provide traditional in-store shopping. This new Metro partnership is just one more way we’re trying to simplify the task of grocery shopping.”

“We are excited to partner with Peapod to provide our riders a new, convenient, time-saving option to complete their grocery shopping without having to deviate from their daily routine,” said Paul J. Wiedefeld, Metro General Manager and CEO. “These initiatives are important so that we can see which amenities work best for our customers.”

To use the service, Metro riders can simply place and pay for their order through Peapod’s online service, with pick-up options between 4 and 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. With average transaction times estimated at no longer than five minutes, Peapod-equipped Metro stations will feature lockers where groceries are stored, and an on-site Peapod attendant to load groceries directly into customers’ cars.

For consumers on the go, Peapod’s Metro service is an ideal solution for all their grocery needs. In fact, at least 50% of all Peapod orders are placed on mobile devices, making public transportation the perfect place to multitask.

“Giant knows that customers are constantly on the go and looking for ways to save time and money, without sacrificing service and quality,” said Gordon Reid, Division President, Giant Food of Landover, MD. “As part of their daily commute, customers can simply exit a Metro station and grab their groceries on the way home. We’re proud to partner with WMATA to take this innovative step into the future of city planning and convenience for our customers. ”

In addition to the three new Metro pick-up locations, Peapod by Giant also offers more than 50 convenient pick-up locations across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.”