Addie's, a drive-up grocer that functions as a pick-up only store, launched its first concept location in Norwood, Massachusetts, Thursday. Its $10.1 million in seed funding is led by the Disruptive Innovation Fund, the venture capital arm of Clay Christensen's Rose Park Advisors.
Consumers purchase groceries through Addie's app or website and choose a pick-up time range. The company stocks national and local brands, and aims to improve its assortment based on customer searches and requests.
Addie's is designed as an onsite warehouse and the parking lot as a drive-up experience, according to the retailer. Starting wages for employees are $20 per hour and groceries are competitively priced, according to the retailer. The operation uses a quarter of the energy required of regular supermarkets, it says.
"We believe that taking better care of busy families should be done in a way that also takes care of our team, our community, and our planet," said Jim McQuade, co-founder and CEO of Addie's, in a statement. "With our seed funding, we've built an end-to-end experience to serve people in and around Norwood in a way that can be replicated in suburbs nationwide. We look forward to quickly expanding, offering busy families across the country drive-up grocery convenience without compromise."
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