Associated Food Stores Launches Online Shopping Platform

Associated Food Stores (AFS) is bringing grocery shopping into the 21st century through a partnership with integrated software company Rosie to provide online/mobile shopping opportunities. The technology will provide AFS corporate and member stores a way to reach new customers, while providing consumer behavior analytics, data analysis and new marketing opportunities to participating stores. The partnership with Rosie will provide a seamless online/mobile shopping experience by allowing guests to order their groceries online or through a mobile app and then pick up the order at their local grocer. Certain participating stores will also provide a delivery option for online orders. “We are delighted to team with Rosie to bring a new shopping experience to our guests,” says Neal Berube, president and CEO of AFS. “This alliance will transform the way people shop throughout the Intermountain West, how AFS operates and how independent retailers serve their guests.” The cloud-based software remembers consumer shopping habits, builds shopper specific grocery lists from frequently purchased items and provides product recommendations based on individual shopping habits. Rosie is designed to work with all point-of-sale systems and does not require retailers to download software, allowing them to launch the service quickly. Rosie’s services will help participating members of Associated Food Stores reach more busy moms, professionals and home-bound guests. The first participating stores plan to roll out the new service during the first quarter of 2015. “Rosie provides best-in-class online/mobile shopping experiences for independent grocers and has transformed the way that local stores delight their customers every day,” says Nick Nickitas, Rosie’s CEO. “For the first time ever we’re putting Rosie’s renowned platform at AFS member and corporate stores. This is a radical step for online/mobile grocery shopping and something that only Rosie and AFS can deliver.”