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Door to Door Organics opens new warehouse in Chicago(Supermarket News Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Online retailer Door to Door Organics is expanding its footprint in Chicago with a new 25,000-square-foot warehouse in the city’s Bridgeport neighborhood. This warehouse replaces an 8,000-square-foot warehouse in operation since 2010 on Chicago’s Far West Side. The retailer added 1,000 new items to its Chicago product offerings making a total of 3,500 products available in the region. “Our aggressive and strategic investments in Door to Door Organics’ local operations further our commitment to remaining a trusted business in the community and allows us to better meet the unique needs of both downtown and suburban customers,” said Chad Arnold, president and CEO of Door to Door Organics, in a media statement. The Colorado-based grocer’s overall core offerings have evolved over time. The online company started as more of a Community Supported Agriculture program distributing produce boxes, then moved to add in proteins, dairy and shelf-stable products, Arnold said during a panel at the Natural Products Expo East conference in Baltimore. Shoppers still sign up for subscription produce boxes, but they can add products from all categories to that box. “So our business model has shifted, and it’s shifting much more in the direction of other fresh outside of produce and then shelf-stable foods as well — to the tune of being 95% produce a little over two years ago to 75% produce now. But we’re still very, very fresh driven. “And we still work to build context between how you use food and how the consumer thinks about food,” Arnold said. Door to Door Organics now connects customers to recipes and meal ideas on its website. CONNECT WITH SN ON TWITTER Follow @SN_News for updates throughout the day. The retailer continues to prioritize natural, organic and local products. The company is able to take on small volume brands and make them available in one region to start. Larger brands that fit the Door to Door Organics mission are also welcomed by the retailer. “We definitely really work to highly curate, and make good selections about our products we carry. So we do have a pipeline of up-and-coming products and brands and we work to keep that moving,” said Arnold. “But at the end of the day, we really want to drive retention in our customer base. So for an ongoing and weekly shopper, we also need price diversity.” The online retailer is also bringing in more delivery vans to the Chicago region. Door to Door Organics doesn’t use refrigerated trucks for delivery, Arnold said, but instead puts the cooling management within the box. “But we’ve now integrated dry ice into our packaging system so we’re just starting to get into frozen and hopefully by the end of the year we’ll have it across all of our regions.” Frozen items available in the Chicago area include a variety of breads, desserts, breakfast items, fruits, entrees and snacks. RelatedGrocery delivery serves niche markets — for now Organic e-commerce specialist expands The nonprofit group World Business Chicago applauded the online grocer’s recent moves in Chicago. “Creating economic opportunities within Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods and fostering innovation are key components of Mayor Emanuel’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, which World Business Chicago is currently implementing,” said World Business Chicago president and CEO Jeff Malehorn in a statement. “Door to Door Organics’ expanding operations increases access to fresh, quality food for Chicagoans, and brings e-commerce jobs to Chicago’s thriving tech ecosystem.” Door to Door Organics employs 31 people in its Chicago warehouse and office. While she wouldn’t give specifics, Cambria Jacobs, Door to Door Organics’ VP of marketing, said the grocer will be launching new locations next year. Door to Door Organics will also be making 1,000 new products available in its Colorado, Tri-State, Kansas and Michigan markets this year. In its 11 markets across the country, the retailer predicts that it will have 35,000 active customers by the end of 2014. Last month, Inc. magazine named Door to Door Organics to its list of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S. Suggested CategoriesMore from Supermarketnews Latest News Top 75 Retailers & Wholesalers Top 50 Small Chains & Independents Top 25 Global Retailers Power 50 SN Photo Galleries Videos Industry Voices SN Viewpoints Total Access Event Coverage © 2014 Penton Media |