Kroger Shuts Down Home Delivery Service Kroger Ship Amid Changing Consumer Preferences

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Kroger Co. has officially ended its Kroger Ship service, which provided home delivery for groceries and other products from third-party sellers. The shutdown occurred in March, as announced on the company’s website.

Kroger, based in downtown Cincinnati, is the largest traditional supermarket chain in the United States. Customers were informed that they can still place orders for Kroger products through the retailer’s pickup and delivery services.

The decision to discontinue Kroger Ship did not come with an explanation from the company’s officials, who did not respond to a request for further comment. However, customers can continue to order groceries online for either home delivery or curbside pickup.

Kroger Ship was launched in 2018 and aimed to compete in the rapidly growing e-commerce market by offering not just groceries but also a range of products from third-party vendors. Over time, it included items like home goods, toys, and seasonal merchandise.

Celia Van Wickel, an e-commerce expert, noted that the discontinuation of Kroger Ship coincided with the company’s announcement of plans to house its digital operations more centrally. Demand for ship-to-home services for grocery items has diminished significantly since the pandemic, dropping from 30% to around 19% of online grocery sales, according to data from Brick Meets Click and Mercatus.

The closure of Kroger Ship reflects a broader trend in retail, where traditional grocery chains are re-evaluating their e-commerce strategies in the face of stiff competition. Kroger continues to invest in improving its online grocery shopping experience and maintaining quality and competitive pricing.

Despite the end of Kroger Ship, the company remains committed to enhancing its digital offerings with a focus on its core strength: fresh and quality grocery products.