SN asked a variety of industry observers to point out grocery store websites that they found to be compelling or otherwise interesting, and to glean observations about various food retailing websites.
To help in this endeavor SN enlisted the help of Joan Treistman, founder of the Treistman Group, a New York-based market and promotional research firm that, among other things, rates and critiques retail websites. Treistman viewed select websites and provided her impressions as they related to her guidelines for effective websites. These include how they cater to a user's motivation for visiting and their expectations; the site's navigation and design; and the richness of its content.
SHOPRITE
According to Rich Tarrant, founder and chief executive officer of ShopRite's Web services provider, MyWebGrocer, the New Jersey-based retailer provides a good example of the possibilities for companies embracing the Web. ShopRite, comprised of members of the Wakefern Food cooperative, offers not only a robust e-commerce platform but is getting its brand in front of shoppers through innovations like a widget distributed through blogs and Facebook, and the development of an application for the iPhone.
HY-VEE
Albin Andolshek, vice president of Grocery Shopping Network, includes Hy-Vee among GSN's top accomplishments. Its website integrates content including recipes, coupons, meal planning and personalized shopping offers.
WHOLE FOODS
Wholefoods.com
blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/
A powerful consumer brand that inspires passion among its devotees, Whole Foods is among the few grocery retail sites that can draw attention on the strength of its blogs and online discussion forums alone, sources say. And that's not including the colorful and occasionally controversial blogging of its chief executive, John Mackey. His recent remarks about health care reform — and the reaction to them — are an active topic in the Whole Foods' discussion forum.
STOP & SHOP/GIANT OF LANDOVER, MD.
Sites for these sister chains are “very consumer-centric” according to Treistman. “The home page helped me understand all that I might find at the store, including how to order food, get a flu shot, meal solutions,” she said. “It was a call to action that didn't require that I scroll down the whole page.” These sites also do robust e-commerce through an association with Peapod.
PRICE CHOPPER
Pricechopper.com
pricechopper.wordpress.com
One observer said he admired this site for presenting circular ads in an easy-to-read format. The Schenectady, N.Y.-based retailer is also active in engaging shoppers through social sites, including an online blog and Facebook and Twitter presences.
A&P
Apsupermarket.com
Thefoodemporium.com
Waldbaums.com
Superfresh.com
These sites recently added a new functionality allowing consumers to collect and redeem paperless coupons through their loyalty cards. The program, known as Zavers, is offered through Zave Networks, Kansas City, Kan.
