Albertsons brings pick-up lockers to select Jewel-Osco, Safeway stores
Albertsons is growing its order fulfillment capabilities with its latest effort. The retailer is debuting pick-up lockers at certain Jewel-Osco stores in Chicago and Safeway stores in the Bay Area.
The new pick-up option joins Albertsons' existing delivery offering, as well as its Drive Up & Go curbside pickup options that shoppers can access online and via its banners’ apps. It also partners with third-party operators to provide fast delivery options. It also comes as the Boise, Idaho-based retailer has seen its digital sales skyrocket, registering a 276% increase in digital sales in its first fiscal quarter, and it expands its omnichannel efforts to meet consumer needs.
“Contactless pick up through our state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled lockers makes it even easier to shop with us,” said Chris Rupp, Albertsons executive vice president and chief customer and digital officer. “Whether customers choose to shop in our familiar neighborhood stores or through our websites and apps, we are ready to provide them with extraordinary service where and how they want to get their groceries. Our strategy to leverage technology and innovation to continue to grow our digital business is focused on creating products customers love that truly make their lives easier.”
The pick-up lockers are delivered by Bell and Howell, offering a modular, temperature-controlled storage space that can be used indoors and outdoors. Individual columns within the modular setup can be adjusted to ensure specific temperatures that are needed to meet the needs of an online order.
“We are excited to partner with Albertsons to help them deliver a convenient and contactless pickup experience for their customers,” said Larry Blue, CEO of Bell and Howell. “With our temperature-controlled grocery lockers, Albertsons customers can quickly and conveniently pick up their entire order, from heated to frozen food items, whenever and wherever they want.”
The Chicago lockers will be the first ones available, with the Safeway lockers set to arrive later this year. Shoppers who live near stores with pick-up lockers will see the option when using the store's website or app. They can set a pick-up window and receive a unique code that they use to access the self-serve lockers.