The store requires all employees to complete a pre-shift coronavirus screening to ensure they have not been exposed to someone with the virus and do not show symptoms of the virus (via Eat This, Not That!). By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Business Insider In Hadley, Trader Joe’s is allowing just 30 people into the store at once while other customers wait spaced apart in line outside the store. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. "Instead of passing along unsustainable cost increases to our customers, removing delivery will allow us to continue offering outstanding values — quality products for great everyday prices — and to make better use of valuable space in our stores," a Trader Joe's representative said at the time. Sign up for Insider Retail. The biggest stories in fast food, shopping, and more. ", "Creating an online shopping system for curbside pickup or the infrastructure for delivery — it's a massive undertaking," Sloan said. At Trader Joe's, the reality is that over the last couple of decades we've invested those resources in our people rather than build an infrastructure that eliminates the need for people.". Trader Joe's doesn't plan to offer grocery pickup and delivery, despite soaring demand for online grocery services amid the pandemic, the chain said. "We understand the impulse, and we know that some other retailers are offering these services. Whole Foods, Albertson's, Walmart and Target have all embraced online orders which feature home delivery and curbside pickup options, Trader Joe's appears to … "It's something that takes months or years to plan, build, and implement, and it requires tremendous resources. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, grocery stores and retailers across the country have shifted to meet the increased demand for online orders by providing free pickup and even delivery. "It's something that takes months or years to plan, build, and implement and it requires tremendous resources. We also know those offerings don't always translate into positive results. "The bottom line here is that our people remain our most valued resource," Miller said. Some major chains like Whole Foods have even turned some store locations into "dark" grocery stores, which do not allow shoppers inside and operate only to fill online orders. Subscriber In response to the coronavirus pandemic, grocery stores and retailers across the country have shifted to meet the increased demand for online orders by providing free pickup and even delivery. "Creating an online shopping system for curbside pickup or the infrastructure for delivery, it's a massive undertaking," Sloan said. Trader Joe's marketing executives said the company wouldn't provide curbside grocery pickup or delivery, even though demand for those services is soaring. since. ", Miller then added: "While other retailers were cutting staff and adding things like self-checkout, curbside pickup, and outsourcing delivery options, we were hiring more crew and we continue to do that. Here’s why. Account active A shopper exits Trader Joe’s, in Orange, Conn. April 21, 2020. Grocery stores have felt the pressure of stepping up conveniences such as curbside pickup and grocery delivery in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, but Trader Joe's recently spent … The real reason Trader Joe's doesn't do curbside pickup or delivery. "While other retailers were cutting staff and adding things like self-checkout, curbside pickup, and outsourcing delivery options, we were hiring more crew, and we continue to do that.". While so many have changed directions to help satisfy customers during shelter-in-place orders and social distancing, one thing Trader Joe's does not offer is curbside pickup or delivery (via SF Gate). Trader Joe’s won’t offer online ordering, grocery delivery, or curbside pickup. While Trader Joe's is putting its staff first by moving in a direction other than online orders with curbside pickup or delivery, the stores are continuing to take precautions to keep customers and staff safe. He said the company would rather focus its investments on employees, rather than online grocery services. Tara Miller, the marketing director of Trader Joe's, also contributed to the explanation for the company's direction. Amazon and Walmart are racing to meet the spike in demand. Though the decision to keep stores operating as they normally would with in-store shopping and purchases, Trader Joe's has made some changes to take precaution against the spread of the novel coronavirus. Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, Amazon-owned Whole Foods, and other grocers have invested heavily in online grocery services and hired hundreds of thousands of workers since the start of the pandemic. Trader Joe's offered grocery delivery in New York City for years but ended the program because it was too costly, the company told Business Insider last year. We know that this period of distancing will end, and when it does, our crew will be in our stores to help you find our next great product just as they've always been.". Desperate shoppers say they can't order groceries for delivery or pickup. "Creating an online shopping system for curbside pickup or the infrastructure for delivery — it's a massive undertaking," Matt Sloan, Trader Joe's vice president of marketing, said. ", Sloan added: "Well, at Trader Joe's, the reality is that over the last couple of decades, we've invested those resources in our people rather than build an infrastructure that eliminates the need for people. Trader Joe's does not offer these services, though. "Customers are asking if given current circumstances, we're planning on offering delivery or curbside pickup," Tara Miller, Trader Joe's marketing director, said in a recent episode of the company's podcast, "Inside Trader Joe's." In a recent episode of the grocery store chain's podcast series, "Inside Trader Joe's," Matt Sloan, the vice president of marketing, explained why the company has made the decision not to offer curbside pickup or delivery. Going inside to shop might require a little more effort than pickup on the customers' side, but at least shoppers will know their bill is going toward paying and helping workers. Trader Joe's marketing executives said the company wouldn't provide curbside grocery pickup or delivery, even though demand for those services is soaring. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Whole Foods, Albertson's, Walmart and Target have all embraced online orders which feature home delivery and curbside pickup options, Trader Joe's appears to be sticking it's current … While some companies, including Walmart and Kroger, are investing in automated grocery-fulfillment options, those services are not widely available yet, and a vast majority of online orders industrywide are gathered and packed by grocery-store employees or outsourced to third-party companies like Instacart. ", Miller and Matt Sloan, Trader Joe's vice president of marketing, said the costs of building online grocery services were too high and that the infrastructure for such an undertaking "eliminates the need for people.