SIMONDELIVERS, DI LUSSO ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

Matthew Enis

NEW HOPE, Minn. -- SimonDelivers, the Internet grocer based here, plans to create a premium deli on its Web site, featuring more than 50 deli meats, cheeses and gourmet condiments from Di Lusso Deli Co., a division of Hormel.

The company, which offers next-day grocery delivery to shoppers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, also plans to launch a line of premium sandwiches, wraps and party trays.

"Their solutions have given us a wider variety of upscale meats and sliced cheeses than we had been able to offer in the past, as well as new sandwiches and party trays," said David Gandrud, spokesman for SimonDelivers. "One of our strongest areas of growth recently has been in our business-to-business segment, providing delivery services to small businesses and companies. We've heard from them, and have seen an opportunity to provide these types of trays for meetings and office parties."

The deli meats include cracked pepper and honey mesquite turkey, fresh sliced capocollo and prosciutto, and a line of salamis, pepperonis and sopressatas. The products join the company's existing selection of organic and nitrite-free deli meats from Applegate Farms, as well as Jennie-O Turkey and pre-packaged conventional meats from Hormel.

Gandrud said the new items will run the gamut, from traditional triple-decker clubs to reubens and specialty sandwiches. All sandwiches and party trays will soon be available for next-day delivery, prepared fresh at SimonDelivers central commissary and distribution center.

"We knew that deli is an important part of any grocery solution, and we knew that we had a good but not a very diverse offering of deli products," Gandrud said. "We were seeking a partnership or vendor that could help us grow that part of our business, and so far this has been a perfect solution for us."