Town & Country Markets expands all-electric grocery delivery

Seattle-based grocer Town & Country Markets is partnering with local adventure travel company PacWesty to offer its online shoppers an all-electric, zero-emissions grocery delivery service. In an innovative twist, PacWesty, which provides recreational vehicles for nature travel in the Pacific Northwest, pivoted during the pandemic to support the growing need of at-home delivery of products and services.

Customers can place their orders online and select the home delivery option at www.townandcountrymarkets.com to receive delivery to their doorstep. 

Among the first companies in Washington State to use a fleet of battery-electric delivery vans, Town & Country and Bainbridge Island, Wash.-based PacWesty began their relationship in 2020 as online grocery delivery took off for the six-store chain.

“As we considered entering our communities and neighborhoods, we didn’t want to show up with noise and added pollution,” said Ryan Ritter, senior director of technology & products, Town & Country Markets.  “PacWesty provided the perfect zero-emissions vehicle options, enabling us to responsibly deliver groceries to our customers and stay true to our sustainable values.” 

The service originated on Bainbridge Island and has been expanded to include Town & Country Markets service areas for its Ballard, Shoreline, Poulsbo and Mill Creek stores. The delivery vans were originally gas powered but were converted by PacWesty to all-electric, embracing the concept of upcycling. Additionally, the vans with refrigeration are designed to utilize the cooling system for the batteries to also cool the cargo areas, eliminating the need for a fuel-driven refrigeration. 

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The all-electric delivery service originated on Bainbridge Island and has been expanded to include Town & Country Markets service areas for its Ballard, Shoreline, Poulsbo and Mill Creek stores.

Since launching the service in 2020, approximately 150,000 bags of groceries have been delivered. And by utilizing electric vans, approximately 49 metric tons of CO2 emission have been eliminated.  

The partnership expansion coincides with Town & Country Markets brand unification, bringing its Central Markets and Ballard Market under the Town & Country brand, and refreshing store interiors to meet new consumer demand. 

Town & Country Markets intends to use zero-emissions electric vehicles for grocery deliveries for all its stores and is investing in additional EV high-speed charging stations at each store location for its delivery vans and consumers before the end of the year. 

“We are thrilled to be working with T&C Markets,” said PacWesty general manager Greg Dronkert. “They’re a pillar of the community and represent the very best of neighborhood spirit.”

Related:Stop & Shop to add 50 electric vehicle charging stations at stores

Town & Country Markets also recently launched a new website with expanded digital content for an integrated, interactive and enhanced online shopping experience, enabling online ordering with personal shoppers and scheduled delivery. 

The regional grocer was founded in 1957 by two brothers, John and Mo Nakata, and Ed Loverich, and operates stores across the Puget Sound area of Washington.