ShopRite ‘Likes’ Facebook Link

JULIE GALLAGHER

KEASBEY, N.J. — Shoprite.com visitors can broadcast to Facebook friends the groceries they're fond of now that a “like” button has been added to the site.

“Consumers like sharing their product and brand preferences and we made it easier for them to do so,” said Cheryl Williams, spokeswoman for ShopRite/Wakefern.

The “like” button can be used with items included in the “ShopRite from Home” online shopping service, and will roll out to recipes, online circulars and the items they contain, later this month.

A shopper who is signed in to their Facebook account simply clicks the “like” button that corresponds to a product on shoprite.com and it appears on their Facebook wall along with a link and a comment, should they provide one. Shoppers will also have the ability to “like” an entire online circular or recipe.

Facebook friends can click on the link and reach a landing page on shoprite.com.

Though use of a Facebook “like” button by a food retailer is unprecedented, ShopRite is hopeful it will help create a buzz about its products.

“It [may] cause our products to become viral — eventually driving traffic to shoprite.com and increasing product sales,” Williams said.

This strategy is ShopRite's latest to focus on improving Web traffic. Its iPhone and Android apps were created with a similar objective.

“Customers who spend more time on shoprite.com, are more engaged and loyal to ShopRite,” Williams said.