Bringing the big-box stores down to the grass-roots level. Grass roots with vegetable roots, leafy greens, and fresh fruits.
A couple of years ago, it became trendy in the more fancy shee-shee neighborhoods of cities to see a grocery delivery truck bringing big bags of groceries to the nice big houses. Sure there was premium pricing attached, but to these grocery customers, it was worth it! The trend caught on and soon the delivery services were working their way down the economic ladder. But not too far – ya still gotta be able to afford it to make it happen.
Interestingly, in neighborhoods on the flip side of thing, its not uncommon to see grocery delivery trucks, but of a different nature. These are trucks, generally well worn from years on the road, filled with fruits, veggies, and some household essentials. The driver picks a spot in a neighborhood, parks, and opens shop by throwing open the truck’s back doors. A honk of the musical horn tells folks the mobile store is open for business. The people come, buy, head home, and when they’ve come and gone the truck moves on to its next location. It’s something that works because grocery stores just aren’t found in the poorest of neighborhoods as readily as they are in the wealthier ones.
So here’s our idea: the big-boxes need in on this store-on-wheels business. K-mart needs a fleet of vehicles that carry fresh food and home essentials out from their Super-K stores to the folks who can’t easily make it in. Fred Meyer too – Meyer Mobile! Wal-Mart can send Wal-Trucks to take that big smiley face and slashed prices to people who need them most. (And as far as we’re concerned, it’s action the local grocery stores should get in on too.)