Albertsons teams up to enhance meal planning online
Albertsons is upping its digital capabilities again, presenting two new ways that could enhance the visibility of its own brand offerings to online shoppers and ease shopping, especially around meal planning.
The first feature is an auto-replenishment tool called “Schedule & Save,” currently being used by Safeway customers in parts of California but with an angle to expand to broader Albertsons banners nationwide in 2022. The feature is available on the website and via the Albertsons mobile app, enabling shoppers to quickly replenish its most frequently purchased items at a discounted price, reflecting significant savings off the average shelf price, per the retailer.
Albertsons has teamed with a predictive shopping platform called Replenium to develop the Schedule & Save feature.
Additionally, Albertsons has introduced a “Menu Planning” feature online and via mobile, providing shoppers easy, convenient and personalized recipes and meal suggestions. Albertsons has partnered with the meal-planning app Mealime to integrate its thousands of recipes from acclaimed chefs and dieticians to help shoppers complete a weekly mealtime shopping list in less than 10 minutes.
As consumers have quickly adapted to e-commerce, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Albertsons has been very active in the digital space. For one, the company launched its own media network called Albertsons Media Collective, and has grown its Instacart partnership into foodservice, signed up with Uber Eats, began testing a subscription model, and announced new digital tools with Pinterest and Firework that enhance how consumers can engage with its store brands via video and social.
“Our customers continue to look for new ways to save time and money when planning meals and shopping at their neighborhood Albertsons Cos. banner store,” shared Chris Rupp, Albertsons EVP and chief customer and digital officer. “These two new features are important ways we’re helping customers reduce the effort associated with grocery shopping so they can spend the time enjoying meals with family and friends.”
The retailer reported its own brands sales penetration has reached above 25% in Q2 2021 and digital is helping to grow the business. In the quarter ending Sept. 11, Albertsons reported same-store sales up 1.5%, and on a two-year stacked basis saw identical sales growth was up 15.3%.