Peapod Plants Virtual Grocery Store In More Cities

Most commuters would like to be able to cross a task off the “to-do” list while waiting for their transportation to-and-from work everyday.

That’s the bet Peapod is making with their virtual grocery store program, which the online food merchant expanded to over 100 locations yesterday after successful trail runs in Chicago and Philadelphia.

Peapod has announced they’re expanding to New York, Boston, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., creating a decidedly east coast feel for the mobile shopping program.

The system works as follows: Peapod installs billboards laden with QR codes in commuter rail stations across the country. Commuters need only to download the free PeapodMobile app to their Android or iOS devices, scan the codes of products they desire, and then schedule for home delivery all while on the go. Once the app is downloaded, the entire process should take just seconds to complete.

“Getting your groceries on the way home from work just got a whole new meaning,” said Mike Brennan, Peapod’s chief operating officer. “With schedules that are more demanding than ever and people spending 200-plus hours a year in transit, our hope is that consumers will take advantage of our virtual stores and mobile app while they’re on the go and enjoy the time saved when they’re at home.”

Even if you don’t see anything you like on the billboard that’s fine by Peapod, which has made over 11,000 products available for online purchase through its mobile app.

According to Peapod, 90 percent of the customers who participated in the Philadelphia program used the service more than once.

Would you buy groceries while waiting for the train? Does the PeapodMobile app appeal to you? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more about the announcement here.