Albertsons Digital Marketplace Spices up Customers’ Online Shopping Variety

BOISE, Idaho, October 17, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Albertsons Companies today announced that Albertsons Digital Marketplace now offers over 40,000 specialty products to customers nationwide, like hard-to-find spices and condiments, specific flavors of coffee, unique health and beauty products, and other health and wellness items. The newly launched Albertsons.com/Marketplace site plans to offer more than 100,000 products by the end of the calendar year.  

“Albertsons Digital Marketplace helps customers discover exciting new products from innovative manufacturers that are then shipped directly to them, creating an infinite aisle,” said Narayan Iyengar, SVP Digital and eCommerce at Albertsons Cos. “This marketplace is just another example of how we are using digital technologies to reinforce and extend our core capabilities of offering exciting new products and a wide assortment. Our infinite aisle also helps a large number of specialty sellers like small businesses and budding entrepreneurs get exposure to our vast customer base.”

Two of the key innovators behind the Marketplace are Karl Varsanyi, GVP of Digital Product Management, and Jon Fahrner, Head of Marketplace. Prior to joining Albertsons Companies, Varsanyi helped turn macys.com into the one of the largest ecommerce sites in the United States and an omnichannel retailing leader. Fahrner, who was part of Zappos.com’s founding team, saw the similarities between his past work and the vast product opportunities in food retail.

Fahrner said, “Our digital team is focused on removing the limits on how people shop for food. Today, people are trying to squeeze the best out of each day in their busy lives. While some customers want an extended selection or unique specialty products, there are other customers who simply prefer to have bulky items like pet food shipped straight to their front doors. This is just the beginning. We are excited to continue to innovate new models to better fit people’s lives.”

Eclectic and exciting merchandise differentiates the Marketplace. One artisan seller that is gaining exposure is Spicemode, which crafts simmer sauces and spice blends. The hand-made, all-natural products are inspired by homemade meals prepared by the founder’s mother as well as his years operating a food truck, the Curry Cruiser, in the City of Chicago. Spicemode has been available online and in select retail stores, yet the company was looking for even more exposure. The Marketplace now gives the product national scale. 

“We started this company on the premise that global flavors should be available to everyone,” said Amar Singh, Chief Flavor Officer of Spicemode. “Albertsons Digital Marketplace lets even more customers begin their flavor journey with small-batch cooking sauces and spices.” The Marketplace is powered by Mirakl and can be accessed at Albertsons.com/Marketplace.

Media Contact:
Lynda Friesz-Martin
Director of Integrated Communication, Albertsons Companies
Lynda.Friesz-Martin@albertsons.com

About Albertsons Companies 
Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. We operate stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs, as well as meal kit company Plated based in New York City. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2017 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave nearly $300 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities and veterans outreach.

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