Sponsored By

Farmstead’s Grocery OS helps grocers launch dark-store operations

Tech firm launches end-to-end delivery operations solution

Michael Browne, Executive Editor

November 4, 2021

3 Min Read
Farmstead_online_grocer_bag_0_0.png
'Grocery OS helps grocers vastly improve efficiency, so they can eliminate fees and make money on e-commerce without passing fees down to customers,' said Farmstead co-founder and CEO Pradeep Elankumaran.Farmstead

Online grocer and technology firm Farmstead on Thursday announced that it has partnered with national real estate companies and multiple national last-mile delivery services to create the first end-to-end same-day e-commerce operations solution for grocers.

According to the company, Farmstead’s Grocery OS solution now includes everything a grocer or retailer needs to get a dark-store delivery operation up and running in just two weeks, including:

  • Grocery OS APIs for writing and centralizing customer orders into dark stores (and optionally retailers’ existing stores) from retailers’ own apps and third-party marketplaces

  • Warehouse space sourced via national real estate giants

  • Optional grocery inventory sourcing and stocking for rapid rollout using the Grocery OS product supply network

  • Grocery OS software stack for managing online order intake, inventory management with AI prediction engine and automatic procurement, picking and packing, and customer communications

  • Optional dark store labor sourced via Grocery OS partners

  • Last mile delivery with guaranteed two-hour delivery service across a 50-mile radius, with optional <1-hr delivery

  • Optional inclusion on third-party delivery service marketplaces

“Right now, rapid grocery delivery comes with high markups and fees, and Farmstead wants to change that,” said Pradeep Elankumaran, co-founder and CEO of Farmstead. “Grocery OS helps grocers vastly improve efficiency, so they can eliminate fees and make money on e-commerce without passing fees down to customers, and without relying on expensive third-party services. The combination of Grocery OS and dark stores enables faster delivery, a much larger delivery radius and higher profits per order, while customers get lower prices. We’ve been doing this ourselves for several years, and are now offering it to other grocers.”

Related:Farmstead offers its e-grocery platform to other retailers

Grocery OS.jpg

According to the company, Farmstead’s Grocery OS solution now includes everything a grocer or retailer needs to get a dark-store delivery operation up and running in just two weeks.

Farmstead’s Grocery OS, launched in 2020, was originally a software-only solution. In a pilot with a leading national grocer, Grocery OS was proven to reduce delivery operational costs while accelerating delivery times to under two hours and significantly improving customer satisfaction. Other retailers have since adopted the solution, including most recently Farm Link Hawaii. The Oahu-based online grocer is known for connecting shoppers with the best produce, proteins and packaged goods Hawaii has to offer.

According to Rob Barreca, CEO of Farm Link Hawaii, “By migrating to Grocery OS, Farm Link Hawaii will be able to offer its customers unparalleled convenience of same-day delivery with an even larger product selection from over 150 of Hawaii's finest farmers, ranchers and food makers. With our 20 years of experience in software, product design and farming, Farm Link Hawaii will work closely with the Grocery OS team to ensure the unique logistical and supplier challenges experienced in Hawaii are overcome.”

Related:Farmstead, DoorDash eye longer online grocery reach

“While our Grocery OS software greatly simplified grocery delivery for our customers, we saw them still struggling with bringing a unified solution to market,” said Elankumaran. “Our new solution removes those barriers and enables our customers to get their new delivery operations into the market even faster.”

About the Author

Michael Browne

Executive Editor, Supermarket News

Michael Browne joined Supermarket News in 2018 after serving in managing and executive editor capacities at leading B2B media brands including Convenience Store NewsLicense Global and Travel Agent. He also previously served as content production manager for print and digital in the Business Intelligence division of Informa, parent company of Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News.

As executive editor, Mike oversees the editorial content of supermarketnews.com as well as the monthly print publication. He also directs all content-based brand-related projects including the annual Top 75 Retailers report, Category Guide, Retailer of the Year, research surveys and special reports, as well as podcast and webinar content. Mike has also presented and moderated at industry events.

In addition to the positions mentioned above, Mike has also worked as a writer and/or editor for special projects at American Legal Media (ALM), managing editor for Tobacco International, special projects editor at American Banker • Bond Buyer, and as production editor for Bank Technology News and other related financial magazines and journals published by Faulkner & Gray.

A graduate of Fordham University, Mike is based in New York City, where he was born and raised.

Contact Mike at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like