FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A NEW pick-up-only grocery store has opened its doors.
Addie's has been open for business since Thursday, January 26 in Norwood, Massachusetts.
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But unlike most grocery stores, its aisles won't be packed with shoppers doing the weekly shop or picking up much needed provisions for dinner after work.
Addie's is a pick-up-only grocery store.
The 22,000-square-foot store offers an exhaustive list of 4,500 products from both national and local brands.
These comprise everything from bakery treats to body lotion.
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Galvanised by the pandemic, founder Jim McQuaid followed the prominent trend of pick-up services.
Speaking to local NBC affiliate WBTS, he said: "We have done some deliveries, some pick-ups, especially started during the pandemic when didn't want to go to grocery stores.
"As soon as we felt more comfortable going into grocery stores, I was like, 'I don't feel like I want to go back to that.' I'm looking for any time in our busy week we can cut some time here and there."
Addie's provides a comprehensive step-by-step manual for consumers on its website.
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Firstly, you choose which items you wish to purchase on the app or website.
After scheduling a pick-up time in line with your availability, you'll pull into an available pick-up lane.
An employee will then dutifully run out to your spot and give you the groceries you ordered - all in a two-minute pit stop.
Online grocery shopping is projected to account for 20% of overall grocery shopping by 2026, per data from Mercatus.
Additionally, the online grocery delivery services market is anticipated to shoot from $286billion in 2021 to a staggering $2.159trillion in 2030, according to Zion Market Research.
The store currently has 38 employees with salaries starting at $20 an hour - though McQuade is hoping to open up to 2,000 stores.