WASHINGTON, D.C. – Harris Teeter, a prominent grocery retailer, has unveiled its exclusive delivery service in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, as confirmed by a company announcement.
This same-day delivery service marks an expansion of Harris Teeter's presence in a vital market where it currently operates a substantial number of stores. Deliveries are carried out utilizing Harris Teeter branded refrigerated trucks, equipped with dry ice to preserve frozen items during transportation.
Customers opting for this service have the opportunity to enroll in a 30-day trial of HT Plus, Harris Teeter's membership program. HT Plus offers a range of benefits, including no-fee delivery and free pickup, with annual payment options of $59 and $99.
In a competitive landscape, with rivals like Giant Food and Safeway actively pursuing online grocery orders in the nation's capital, Harris Teeter is positioning itself to cater to evolving customer demands. Notably, last August, FreshDirect withdrew its services from Washington, D.C., after several years of operation. Additionally, Giant Food recently disclosed its intention to shutter three e-commerce fulfillment centers as it shifts towards a more "localized fulfillment model."
The recent expansion into Washington, D.C., follows closely on the heels of the launch of Harris Teeter Delivery in the greater Maryland area.
Harris Teeter's in-house delivery system is bolstered by the 350,000-square-foot automated fulfillment center located in Frederick, Maryland. This facility, officially opened by parent company Kroger in June, functions as a customer fulfillment center (CFC). It represents Kroger's eighth CFC and stands as the most recent addition to the company's CFC network.
Kroger has an extensive presence across multiple states, with CFCs and smaller spoke facilities, often in partnership with Ocado. However, expansion plans are currently under evaluation, as Kroger assesses the performance of its network and navigates its proposed acquisition of Albertsons.