Cub Foods balances online, in-store shopping experiences

Cub Foods has revamped its online grocery ordering process to incorporate in-store shopping benefits.

To that end, Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub said Wednesday it has enhanced the way pickup and delivery orders are handled to better meet customers’ needs throughout the entire transaction. The top change: Online shoppers now can use their MyCub rewards card to gain access to exclusive store promotions, preloaded savings and digital coupons on hundreds of products. They also can earn fuel reward points on all purchases for redemption at participating Holiday Stationstores gas/convenience locations.

With the updated online experience, each order is shopped locally at each store by a fully trained dedicated team of Cub associates, the retailer noted. Delivery drivers are trained to prevent bruising, spilling and tipping of groceries during transit, and customer service needs are handled directly at the store filling the order. In addition, each online order now comes with a printed receipt.

Online shoppers now can use their MyCub card to access to exclusive promotions, preloaded savings and digital coupons and earn fuel reward points.

“Today’s consumer is busier than ever, and they shouldn’t be treated differently if they can’t find time to purchase their groceries physically in one of our stores,” Chad Bersie, director of e-commerce at Cub Foods, said in a statement. “Our new online grocery pickup and delivery experience allows us to better deliver on our ‘My Cub, My Way’ promise, giving customers who shop at Cub access to the same benefits and experience whether they prefer shopping in our stores or online through curbside pickup or home delivery.”

Related:Minnesota governors get COVID boosters at Cub Foods

Cub also has bolstered its grocery delivery capability with last-mile partner Capstone Logistics. As with the Cub Wine & Spirits and Liquor store home delivery service, Capstone will facilitate grocery deliveries through its network of independent drivers and its MileZero platform, which automates the fulfillment process. Delivery drivers will don the Cub logo on their uniform for identification, and customers will get a text notification with a link to track their delivery driver’s location, according to Cub.

Currently, Peachtree Corners, Ga.-based Capstone has a network of 300 independent contractors to make deliveries from Cub’s 79 supermarkets and 28 Wine & Spirits and Liquor stores in Minnesota.

“Our grocery delivery solution provides the technology and logistics execution retailers need to offer omnichannel fulfillment,” according to Jon Rydel, executive vice president of Capstone’s Last Mile division. “As online grocery sales continue to skyrocket, improving service needs to be a priority, and with Capstone Last Mile, retailers can offer their own branded solution that improves the total customer experience.”

Related:Cub Foods eyes crisper produce operations

Cub customers can schedule pickup and delivery orders from their local store 14 days in advance. The grocer said that through Saturday, Nov. 13, it will waive pickup and delivery fees. Thereafter, MyCub Rewards members making $50 online purchase get free pickup and pay a $9.99 fee for delivery, with no extra service or convenience fees.

A business unit of grocery distributor United Natural Foods Inc., Cub Foods has a retail network of 80 supermarkets, primarily in the Twin Cities market, with one Illinois store.