Fresco y Más kicks off online grocery delivery

Southeastern Grocers (SEG) has launched online grocery delivery via Shipt at its Fresco y Más supermarket chain in Florida.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based SEG said Thursday that Shipt same-day delivery is now available at all 26 Fresco y Más stores in South Florida, Tampa and Orlando. The company noted that the chain is among the first Hispanic grocers to offer home delivery for Hispanic and Caribbean shoppers in metropolitan markets across Florida.

“We are continuously making improvements to increase the quality of our customers’ lives through convenient and enjoyable shopping experiences,” SEG President and CEO Anthony Hucker said in a statement. “This is why we are proud to announce our partnership with Shipt as another way for our customers to purchase their favorite Fresco y Más quality products and value delivered directly to their doorstep.”

Through the Shipt app and a dedicated web page, Fresco y Más customers will be able to order from a range of groceries and daily essentials, including Hispanic and Caribbean products as well as hot items from the grocer retailer’s Cocina (kitchen). Items available via Shipt include fresh produce, meat and seafood, health and beauty aids, pet products and consumable baby items.

“Residents of South Florida, Orlando and Tampa will have the convenience of easy, personal delivery of their favorite items from another beloved local retailer,” stated Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Shipt. “Through our app, our members have access to everything they need, when they need it.”

Related:Fresco y Más targets Caribbean shoppers

The launch at Fresco y Más expands SEG’s grocery delivery partnership with Birmingham, Ala.-based Shipt. SEG’s Winn-Dixie and Bi-Lo supermarkets already offer Shipt same-day delivery across their Southeastern market area.

SEG said a recent survey showed that the convenience of online grocery shopping and delivery appeals to many of its customers. For example, more than a third of SEG customers reported buying groceries online within the past year. And of those doing so, 88% had their orders delivered. Customers polled also cited time savings as the top reason for shopping online rather than in-store.

Currently, SEG operates approximately 575 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina under the Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo, Harveys Supermarket and Fresco y Más banners.

The company sees Fresco y Más as a growth vehicle. The chain has more than doubled its store count since expanding to 11 locations about a year ago. The first six stores were opened in the second half of 2016. Products and services at Fresco y Más locations are tailored to provide an authentic Hispanic grocery experience for each community. For instance, a store opened in December in Lauderhill, Fla., was the chain’s first to emphasize products for Caribbean customers.

Related:Southeastern Grocers to shut 22 stores