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Schnucks brings ‘order ahead’ to the party

E-commerce option helps customers cater special occasions, family/friend gatherings

Russell Redman

February 9, 2022

2 Min Read
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Schnuck Markets now offers 'order ahead' service for catering in addition to the deli, prepared foods, bakery and floral departments.Schnuck Markets

Schnuck Markets has extended its “order ahead” functionality to party planning.

On Wednesday, St. Louis-based Schnucks said 59 stores in three states now enable customers to order a range of party-oriented foods in advance through the Schnucks Rewards app and Schnucks website and pick them up at a designated time. Foods available for party planning order-ahead include party platters, sandwiches, sides, soups, salads, appetizers, entrees, fried chicken, seafood and selected bakery items. There’s also a special page grouping items for football fans.

“Customers at more than half our locations can now order what they want, when they want, for their parties and family gatherings simply by using their smartphones, tablets and computers,” Chace MacMullan, senior director of digital experience at Schnucks, said in a statement. “To save customers time and hassle, orders are paid for in advance and ready for pickup at the deli counter so there is no need for customers to wait in line at the checkout.”

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On Schnucks' Party Planning web page, customers can order a range of foods for special occasions and gatherings in advance for pickup at participating stores.

To order party items in advance via the Schnucks website, customers visit the Party Planning section and enter their ZIP code to find a participating Schnucks store nearby. To place a party order from the app, shoppers set their “home store” to one of the party planning order-ahead locations and then tap the “shop” option. The retailer said party planning orders should be placed at least 72 hours before the desired pickup time.

Related:Schnuck Markets expands Deli Order Ahead

Schnucks locations offering party order-ahead include 35 stores in Missouri, 19 stores in Illinois and five stores in Indiana. In support of the new capability, Schnucks is offering first-time party planning order-ahead customers an extra 250 rewards points.

Party planning has become the latest category to receive order-ahead functionality since Schnucks first launched the service in April 2019 at 18 stores in Missouri, Indiana and Illinois. Just over a week ago, the grocer expanded its Deli Order Ahead program with the addition of touchscreen kiosks at another 30 stores. Sixty-seven stores now have order-ahead stations in their deli departments. Customers also can access Deli Order Ahead through the rewards app.

Last April, Schnucks brought order-ahead capability to the bakery, allowing shoppers to order custom cakes via its website and rewards app for pickup in the bakery department. At launch, the service was available at 95 stores. The grocer also offers order-ahead services in its prepared foods and floral departments.

Overall, Schnucks operates 111 supermarkets in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Related:Schnuck Markets brings order-ahead online service to bakery

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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