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Digital grocery: A modern household essential

Whether it’s a leisurely Saturday morning spent browsing the aisles for inspiration or a frantic Tuesday evening when the fridge is unexpectedly empty, Canadian shopping habits are no longer one-size-fits-all.

Recognizing that today’s consumers need their grocery experience to be more flexible than their schedules, Skip and Loblaw Companies Ltd. (“Loblaw”) have joined forces to ensure that convenience is always just a tap away.

The partnership means that Canadians can now use the Skip app on their phone or mobile device to order anything from milk and eggs to bread or meat from any Loblaw-owned grocery store in virtually any market without having to leave the comfort of home.

Paul Sudarsan, senior vice-president of marketplace and partnerships for Skip, says adding Loblaw to its growing list of corporate partners is part of an ongoing evolution aimed at better connecting the company with busy Canadians and their evolving needs.

“This partnership with Loblaw really is about strengthening our overall ecosystem, about being an everyday convenience platform,” he says.

“We are continuing to respond to the evolving needs of Canadian consumers. We know that their needs and desires continue to evolve. It’s about Skip leaning into and listening to customers across the country and knowing what that means for people in Halifax, Winnipeg, Toronto, Red Deer or Barrie and being there to support them.”

The biggest benefit of this new partnership, Sudarsan says, is that it will enable consumers to save time when it comes to shopping for everyday essentials, time which can then be devoted to other more pressing concerns.

Forgot ground beef for your family’s Taco Tuesday? You can Skip it. Are you a senior without access to a vehicle? You can order your groceries through Skip and have them delivered right to your door. The same goes for students cramming for midterms who need some food items delivered to fuel their late-night studies.

“Our brand promise, Skip to the good part, is so important because we know that Canadians are busier than ever. There’s work, there’s kids activities, there’s school, and there’s all the other things that are part of your day-to-day agenda,” Sudarsan says.

“By partnering with Loblaw, we’re giving Canadians access to thousands of products across their grocery banners, allowing them to easily tap into that. We can be that trusted partner giving you access to the items you need across the country – whether you are in a busy urban centre, a suburban market, or a rural area.”

This new partnership means customers will be able to use the Skip app to order from 13 of the Loblaw grocery banners, including Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Loblaws, Your Independent Grocer, and more. That’s on top of leading Canadian pharmacy retailer Shoppers Drug Mart with whom Skip formed a partnership last year. In addition to everyday groceries, customers will be able to order some of their favourite Loblaw brands of goods, including President’s Choice, Joe Fresh, Life Brand and Farmer’s Market.

Customers will also have the option to order as much or as little they require from their favourite retail location. Need a mid-week grocery top-up? No problem. Want to do a full week’s worth of shopping all at the same time? Skip and Loblaw have you covered.

“You as a customer have the choice to order whatever you choose to put in your basket,” Sudarsan says.

Providing consumers with more choices is one of the main reasons why Skip was formed back in 2012, when it was known as SkipTheDishes. The proudly Canadian Winnipeg brand has since grown from a small marketplace tech start-up into an industry giant which now serves more than 450 cities and towns across Canada.

“What’s even more incredible is that while the business was grown here, Skip is now part of a global network with IP built in Winnipeg powering markets globally,” says Sudarsan. “But our heart remains homegrown. That’s why partnering with a quintessential Canadian brand like Loblaw is so significant. It allows us to use our global-scale tech to serve our own communities. By bringing brands like No Frills and Real Canadian Superstore directly to Winnipeggers’ doors, we’re reinvesting in the province where it all began.”