Health Food Grocers Adds Clicks To Its Bricks

Another grocery story has taken the step that so many retailers have recently realized is necessary to keep up in the digital word by launching an eCommerce site.

Health Food Grocers announced late last week (June 19) that it was launching its online store to help extend its bricks-and-mortar presence online by offering its speciality products. This includes everything in the natural health categories — including vitamins and nutritional supplements, organic and green lifestyle products, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, kosher, baby and children products, natural beauty, meal replacements, energy bars, and healthy lifestyle snacks.

“In addition to offering our customers literally thousands of high quality health products, our site is creating a community platform for like-minded health conscious individuals. Our clients will be able to ask for and receive expert nutritional advice, healthy recipes and share their ideas and experiences with other members of the community,” Liza Brisk, nutritionist and spokeswoman for Health Food Grocers, said in a company news release.

“What makes us different is that at HFG, we offer an online shopping experience where the consumer can shop in definitive lifestyle categories, for example Vegan, Organic or Gluten-free,” Brisk added. “When seeking to shop via a particular lifestyle, this offers not only convenience but a community feel.”

And for those customers who might traditionally go into the physical stores to get have their health related questions answered, Health Food Grocers’ online site will also house the resources to help customers get those questions answered. Customers can enter a health question directly on the website and will receive free advice back from a professional nutrition expert within 24-48 hours.

As grocery stores like Health Food Grocers look to go online, those on the other side of the spectrum are realizing the importance of expanding their grocery offerings, too. Online giant Amazon, for example, is looking to expand its physical grocery presence by delivering fresh groceries — and in some cities in less than an hour. That marks a shift from standard protocol for its Prime Now service, wherein the eCommerce giant offered its signature one-hour delivery option only for goods sold through its site.

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