The Village Market (VM) is making plans to integrate online ordering and delivery for their local customers.
The VM is partnering with the company Instacart to bring same-day grocery delivery to local consumers. Instacart works with supermarkets and grocery centers across the country to provide delivery to customers who have busy schedules or have no means of making it to the physical store location themselves.
Dee Franks, assistant manager of the VM, said, “Even though we are a local grocery store, we still want to provide new services to our customers, even if that means integrating online services.”
Managers emphasizes that this new operation will be directed towards community customers rather than the Southern students. The VM is planning to focus this service towards customers who live in a five-to 10-mile radius from the store. Due to the proximity of most Southern students, the online ordering service will have no direct effect on them.
Walmart introduced online grocery delivery in 2015, which put pressure on smaller, less monopolized stores. Many grocery stores have been making the transition to online service since then.
“I’m sure I would use this service if it was offered to my location,” said Diane Bramblett, a VM customer, when asked if she was interested in VM online ordering.
Joanne Macgregor, a regular VM customer, said she would probably not use the service because she prefers seeing and feeling the item before she purchases it.
The VM student workforce will not be affected by the new online ordering service. Instacart will operate with their own employees to deliver the groceries to each location.
Franks believes online services add to the Village Market’s mission statement, which is to be a witness to the community and uplift Jesus in the marketplace. The Village Market seeks to give shoppers the best products at the best price with the friendliest service.
Image creidt: Madison Gang