Heinen’s begins home delivery for groceries

The Heinen’s grocery store chain and Instacart, an online shopping and delivery service, have partnered to offer customers in the Greater Cleveland and surrounding areas the ability to shop for groceries online and have them deliver to their home or place of employment.

The delivery service, which was launched on Sept. 7, allows customers to visit the website www.heinensdelivers.com, select the items and schedule a delivery time.

First-time users will be required to register and set up an account and will receive free delivery on their first order.

“As a local company, we are always working to bring beneficial new services to new and existing customers that meet today’s lifestyles,” said Jeff Heinen, co-owner of Warrensville Heightsbased Heinen’s, in an Aug. 31 news release. “This opportunity allows those in the Greater Cleveland area to shop Heinen’s — whether they visit us in store or order online.”

According to the news release, customers will find thousands of the same products online for the same prices as in stores. Additionally, weekly ad pricing will be offered online.

“Today’s consumers lead busy lives and look for ways to save time — whether shopping or preparing meals,” the news release stated. “For years, Heinen’s has been monitoring web-based grocery shopping and pickup and delivery models.”

Heinen’s stated through the media release its confidence that it has partnered with a reliable, knowledgable and trusted grocery service that is offered in all 50 states.

Heinen’s reported on Sept. 20 that in the short time the service has been available, it seems to be working pretty well.

“These people who are getting the service and evaluating it using a fivestar system,” Jeff Heinen said. “Over 90 percent of the people who are rating the service have (issued) fives and the rest have been fours. The people who are commenting on Instacart’s website are all commenting on the quality of the drivers and the food.”

He noted that people might be initially concerned about the produce or cut of meat they get when they are used to picking it out themselves and wonder if someone else can do it, but that people were satisfied with the quality.

There are deliveries fees involved, starting at $5.99 for orders more than $35, but delivery fee is waived on the first order when using the promo code HEINENS.

Delivery is available 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, and is offered in all areas where a Heinen’s is located. There is a $10 minimum purchase for delivery.

Heinen’s has set up an Frequently Asked Questions page at www.heinens.com/grocery-delivery/grocerydelivery-faq, which provides additional information on the shopping and delivery service.