This should be GSIC'S next move similar to PPOD:GreatFood.com and Peapod Form Marketing Partnership to Target Online Specialty Food Market
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1998--GreatFood.com (http://www.greatfood.com), the ultimate specialty food store for quality, selection and convenience, announced today that it has entered a co-marketing agreement with Peapod Inc. (Nasdaq:PPOD - news), the nation's leading Internet grocer.
Under the agreement, Peapod will integrate GreatFood.com's specialty food product line and selective content into its Peapod Packages service, a national Internet food service expected to be launched in the second quarter of 1999 on Peapod.com (http://www.peapod.com).
''Peapod is one of the most experienced and well established broad line marketers of food online,'' said Ben Nourse, chairman and founder of GreatFood.com. ''They have nearly 100,000 members regularly shopping for groceries using their service. They're also a public company and well capitalized. All these qualities make Peapod a great partner for us. This relationship is another example of how we're attaining our goal of being the No. 1 e-commerce company in the specialty food industry.''
Peapod Packages, a national alternative to Peapod's local delivery services, will offer consumers thousands of food and household items including bundles of products targeted at niche occasions, specialty and gourmet foods, menu and recipe fulfillment and food-related information. Preceding the national Peapod Packages launch, Peapod customers will have access to GreatFood.com specialty products through periodic promotions, including a holiday gift promotion the companies are sponsoring through the end of the year.
''The partnership with GreatFood.com will strengthen Peapod Packages by broadening our product offering with high-end, pre-packaged specialty foods that are particularly attractive for gift-giving,'' said Andrew B. Parkinson, chairman, president and CEO of Peapod Inc. ''GreatFood.com has developed strong relationships with its suppliers and assembled a broad array of high-quality products, and we are delighted to offer our customers this award-winning specialty food offering.''
Peapod Inc. is the leading Internet grocer, providing consumers with broad product choices and local delivery services. The company currently provides such services in seven metropolitan markets in the United States and serves over 98,000 members. Peapod is also a leading provider of targeted media and research services to consumer goods companies, offering its unique medium for targeting promotions and advertising at the point of purchase and conducting cost-effective research.
GreatFood.com offers consumers one-stop shopping for hand-selected fine foods from around the world. Visitors can choose from an extensive array of regional specialties such as Pacific Northwest smoked salmon, real Vermont maple syrup and ocean fresh Maine lobster. In addition, consumers can read product reviews, view recipes, explore menu ideas and serving suggestions and learn from visiting chefs how to prepare meals like the pros.
Founded in 1996, GreatFood.com has received national recognition for the high quality and broad selection of products, as well as ease of use and secure online ordering system. In the November 1998 issue of PC World, GreatFood.com was named one of the best online gift shops. The Biz Rate Guide named GreatFood.com the No. 1 gourmet food site as well as one of the Top 25 overall shopping sites. GreatFood.com headquarters are located in downtown Seattle. Additional background information is available on the company's Web site at greatfood.com.
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