Swiftly and Webstop partner to expand mobile app platform

Retail technology company Swiftly is partnering with grocery store technology company Webstop to increase mobile options and help its clients capture a greater share of the retail media market, the two companies announced Monday.

Combining Webstop’s digital circular web-based platforms with Swiftly’s mobile app technology will equip retailers with the tools to meet the needs of hybrid shoppers, the company said.  

“As the threat of industry consolidation increases, regional retailers must take action now in order to secure their digital customer relationships and establish long-term loyalty and revenue,” said Henry Kim, co-founder and CEO of Swiftly. “Competition for engineering resources and budget remain ongoing challenges for independent grocers. The ability to offer our mobile solutions to Webstop’s customer base will enable retailers to compete with ecommerce giants while boosting shopper engagement and driving margin-rich revenue.”  

Webstop CEO Shawn Tuckett said the mobile app tools will empower regional grocers to successfully compete in a quickly changing retail market. “With Swiftly’s powerful mobile platform, our grocers can now leverage their nimbleness to gain a competitive edge while also increasing loyalty, sales and basket size,” he said.  

Swiftly, which launched in 2018 with an initial investment of $15.6 million, announced in September that it had secured an additional $100 million from investors. As of January, its network included more than 25,000 retailers nationwide. 

The tech company stands to gain more than 2,000 retailers in Webstop’s network of grocers—Tops Markets, Lowe’s Market, Harps Food, SHOP ’n SAVE/UNFI and SpartanNash, among others—this includes enabling them to "gracefully transition from print-dominant advertising to a balanced advertising mix positioned for the future,” according to the press release.