Flashfood launches Flashfood for Independents platform

Flashfood has unveilved Flashfood for Independents, a new offering designed specifically for independently owned grocers. The initiative aims to support local retailers by providing them with a flexible, efficient and easy-to-onboard solution to attract new customers, boost profits and provide access to affordable fresh food in their communities while reducing food waste, the company said in a news release.

"More than 27,000 independently owned grocery stores in North America play a vital role in nourishing and sustaining their communities. But the already harsh and competitive retail climate is difficult for independent grocers who face unique challenges as small businesses," Flashfood CEO Nicholas Bertram said in the release. "Our goal with this launch is to offer a supporting lifeline to these businesses, many of whom solve food access challenge issues in hyper-urban or rural areas. We hope to empower these grocers with a solution that brings more shoppers in-store and puts money into their bottom line.”

Flashfood for Independents builds on the value-add of the Flashfood platform already available at more than 2,200 enterprise stores across North America, with participating grocers seeing an average 27% shrink reduction, one or more additional store trips per month and $20 in incremental sales per month. The new platform offers the same value but with flexible and customizable elements that fit the needs of independent grocers who may have unique store footprints, smaller teams or ever-changing inventory, according to the release. The platform seamlessly integrates with the operations of independent grocers, enhancing their ability to respond quickly to market demands and operational needs, Flashfood says.

The new platform is live in more than 10 independent stores across North America, including Country Squire Foods in Chicago Heights, Ill., Supermercado Mexico in Wyoming, Mich., and Petique Boutique in Scarborough, Ontario. The platform will launch in several Earth Fare stores later this summer, with plans to add more than 100 independent grocers by the end of the year, the release said.

Flashfood for Independents offers the following features and services:

• Fast, easy onboarding with no requirement for inventory data ingestion, enabling manual posting to the Flashfood Partner app on grocers’ standard devices.
• Flexible shopper pickup models tailored to each grocer’s store layout and footprint, with one-size-fits-all signage kits delivered in-store.
• An automated reporting suite that provides actionable insights to each grocer.
• Bespoke Partner Support hub with dedicated customer service team members assigned to Flashfood's Independent Retailers.

"Independent grocers are truly at the heart of the communities they serve. A cornerstone of Main Street, these local businesses account for over $1 million in jobs across the county while also providing essential support for food banks, community groups, and more," said Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association. "Supporting your local independent grocer helps keep tax dollars in the community while providing a hub for gathering, economic development, and most importantly, nutritious food to feed families."

For more information, visit flashfood.com/grocers.