As competition heats up, Publix testing free curbside grocery pickup

As shoppers continue to demand more convenience, Publix Supermarkets is testing curbside grocery pickup at two locations in the Tampa Bay region.

Company officials launched the test this week at stores in Valrico in Hillsborough County and Wesley Chapel in Pasco County, and Atlanta-area locations are scheduled to join the test program by the end of the year.

Though the option isn’t being tested in the Manatee-Sarasota region, it’s likely the program will quickly expand to more stores as Publix tries to keep pace with curbside services lauched by Walmart and other competitors throughout the Southeast.

The relaunch of the curbside program – Publix started it in 2010 before shuttering it in 2012 – comes not long after the supermarket teamed with Instacart to expand grocery delivery services.

“We’ve had great success with Publix Delivery powered by Instacart, and the demand for online grocery services has continued to grow,” Maria Brous, Publix’s director of media and community relations, said in a statement. “So we’re excited to test Publix Curbside and learn more about how to best meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Here’s how the progam works: Customers place an order on the Publix website (publix.com/curbside) and then choose curbside pickup or delivery at checkout. Store associates will shop for the curbside orders and bring them to the customer’s vehicle.

Customers will place their orders on publix.com/curbside and can choose curbside pickup or delivery at check out. Curbside orders will be shopped and carried to customers’ vehicles by Publix associates at a designated pickup time for no extra charge.

Walmart, one of Publix’s biggest competitors, has been expanding its curbside pickup service, which is available in the Bradenton-Sarasota area.

Another reason for Publix’s relaunch of the curbside program: Online giant Amazon’s recent $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods Market, which has forced supermarkets to look for new ways to retain their market share.

This story was originally published September 29, 2017 at 10:06 AM with the headline "As competition heats up, Publix testing free curbside grocery pickup."