Rumor has it that Fresh Direct the drop-dead wonderful online grocer who has kept me out of old-fashioned grocery stores for the past two years, is about to get a direct competitor. But their name is so ridiculous – Bread & Brie – that they won’t stand a chance unless they change it.
The one thing Fresh Direct does wrong, and that is universally hated by their customers – is use so many boxes. Yesterday, I got a carton that contained only a package of cottage cheese. There’s gotta be a better way to stem the waste of resources.
Nonetheless, the new guys would have to come over and cook dinner to get me to switch. Should be an interesting battle heating up soon in New York City.
I do, by the way, also shop at Trader Joe’s and schlep their great stuff home on the subway, but it’s to fill in with goodies, not for basics. Those are Fresh Direct all the way.
Fresh Direct to Get Direct Competitor
BL Ochman | January 10, 2007 | Permanent Link | Comments (7) | TrackBack (
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We have Peapod around here (by Stop and Shop). It lists NY as one of the states, maybe not NYC yet. They bring it to your door in their own vehicles so I think there’d be no boxes and just bags..
Fresh Direct has their own trucks too. but they pack your order at a huge warehouse and each department seems to pack its own part of it.
Thinking about it, they have to use boxes or they couldn’t pack so many orders into the trucks without squishing the produce, etc.
but there has to be a way to use LESS boxes.
What is the source of the rumor?
Folks have been talking for years about a Freshdirect competitor and the only thing that has come up is Food Emporium’s online site.
Sorry, but I can’t reveal my source right now.
don’t know about the name, but i hope it’s true. Fresh direct could use some competition for the past couple of years. They are great and i love them, but i keep thinking fresh direct has gotten sloppy. From eggs (when was the last time you got all of your in one piece?) to fruits that don’t live for more than a few days and meat that tastes not as good as its description… the packaging was already mentioned above and all those trucks clogging up NY…
sorry, i’m a big fan of fresh direct but there are certainly ways service can be better with another player.
Fresh Direct used to be good, but they’ve deteriorated to the point where I’ll never use them again. Two weeks ago they didn’t even show up, and I couldn’t reach customer service. Last night they called at the last minute and told me they would be delayed two hours (until midnight), and if I wanted to reschedule for today, they would be out of milk and bananas. They are really horrible. I’m never going back.
Yes, there is competition in town.
Bread-n-Brie is coming along fine. They’re small, hence a lot more flexible and versatile. And they are eco-friendly too. For instance, they ask you if you want the boxes or else they take them back and recycle. Their trucks are not idling around or blocking traffic. The delivery guy was so pleasant. And you have their pictures on the website. So definitely robberies or “tipping is not optional” problems. Also, more items than FreshDirect, and the meat department is awesome. So far, I am impressed. Before you jump the gun, I suggest you try them out yourself.
http://www.breadnbrie.com.