Peapod.com, an Internet grocery service run by Stop & Shop, announced the launch of more than 100 "virtual grocery stores" at train stations from Boston to Washington, DC and Chicago, including in Darien.
The first of its kind in the U.S., the virtual store technology features billboards of larger-than-life grocery aisles on the train platforms.
Commuters with iPhones, iPads or Android phones can scan a QR code on the billboards to download a free PeapodMobile app and start shopping on the spot by scanning bar codes of the products displayed in the “aisles.”
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With the Peapod virtual grocery stores, commuters can get orders started, make selections from Peapod’s entire online store, and schedule home deliveries—for next day or even several days or weeks in advance.
Along with Darien, train stations with the billboards include Rowayton, Old Greenwich, Fairfield and Westport.
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“Getting your groceries on the way home from work just got a whole new meaning,” said Peapod Chief Operations Officer Mike Brennan. “With schedules that are more demanding than ever and people spending 200-plus hours a year in transit, our hope is that consumers will take advantage of our virtual stores and mobile app while they’re on the go and enjoy the time saved when they’re at home.”
What’s in Store
Peapod’s East Coast virtual store ads feature products that typically fill weekly grocery shopping baskets for busy households, including staples like coffee, condiments and cleaning products; soft drinks, snacks and cereal; milk and bread; health and beauty products; and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Once on the PeapodMobile app, customers have access to more than 11,000 popular and store-brand products.
First-time Peapod customers will need to register on www.peapod.com in order to complete their first PeapodMobile order on their smartphones.
Editor's note: This announcement originally was posted on Wednesday. The time stamp was changed for layout purposes on the Home page of Darien Patch.
