The six-month pilot of a partnership between Peapod, the online arm of grocery chain Giant, and WMATA launched this week. Riders heading for Fort Totten, Glenmont or Vienna can order groceries online and then pick them up as they exit the station in the evening (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
If the pilot is successful WMATA will seek to expand the program to other stations and Peapod (or any other service) would pay a fee for the location perk. “This type of program could generate additional non-farebox revenue in the future,” Metro spokesman Richard Jordan told the Washington Post.
For its part, Peapod is excited about how this kind of option could provide added value to their service, especially in a busy commuter city like D.C.
“What a great option to be able to order your groceries and then pick them up on your way home, not even having to make that additional stop or even think about it,” Elizabeth Psaros, Peapod’s senior manager for regional marketing said in a statement to the Post. “It’s another way of saving time.”
The program is the first of its kind for Peapod, but according to a statement the company will consider expansion to other locales, if this goes well.
After all, for many aspects of the on-demand economy, convenience is king. Hence grocery delivery companies like Peapod or Instacart, and food delivery startups like Postmates or DoorDash. As DCInno reported earlier this week, D.C.-based meal delivery startup Galley is aiming to be the biggest “restaurant” in the District, in terms of meals served, by the end of the year.
So are you getting your groceries from the Metro yet?
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