Albertson's LLC to Close Shutter Online Shopping Service

BOISE, Idaho -- In the latest strategic move for the new Albertson's here, Albertson's LLC revealed earlier this week that it will shut down its online shopping service companywide. The last of its deliveries for the service will be scheduled through July 21.

The Albertsons.com service operated by Albertsons LLC will be ending in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Phoenix, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex -- the regions operated by Albertson's LLC.

Albertson's told its associates and customers it decided to shutter the retail e-commerce operation in order to continue to focus its attention on improving the in-store shopping experience, said communications v.p. Stacia Levenfeld in comment to Progressive Grocer. Levenfeld did not say whether cost-cutting was another reason for the shutdown.

Because Albertsons.com's business model had used the stores for fulfillment, the company is working to place the store associates affected by the shutdown in other positions, Levenfeld said.

Shoppers can continue to refill their prescriptions at Savon.com. The move will have no impact on the operation of the Savon.com site, Levenfeld said.

Meanwhile, a separate Albertsons-related online operation inherited by Supervalu will remain intact, Supervalu spokeswoman Haley Meyer told Progressive Grocer.

Supervalu's Meyer said the company is "exploring the best approach for integrating online shopping into the new Supervalu so that it can deliver the most value to its business.

"We do not anticipate making any significant changes to our current program in the near term," she added. "Online shopping will continue to be an important part of our business going forward. In fact, Supervalu recently expanded its online shopping presence with Acme's expansion into the Delaware market in June."

Communities already served by Albertsons-related online shopping under Supervalu's domain are: Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles/Orange County, Santa Barbara, Palm Desert, Portland/Vancouver, Las Vegas, Boise, Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, and Delaware.

-- Jenny McTaggart
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