Mercato and New York City have partnered to connect underserved NYC communities to local grocery stores. Through the partnership, select stores in all five boroughs will offer their inventory online for local delivery, a service these stores weren’t previously able to offer.
While Mercato has long been partnered with such independent grocers as Sahadi's in Brooklyn, Patel Brothers in Queens, and the various stores located in Chelsea Market, this partnership is designed to empower stores in more marginalized neighborhoods.
"As a native New Yorker and the son of an independent grocer in Brooklyn, I am excited to work with the city to support these neighborhood grocers and to announce Mercato's commitment to improving access to quality food for residents of areas that were impacted by the COVID crisis while also providing these local retailers with a new sales channel," said Bobby Brannigan, CEO and founder of Mercato, in a statement. "It's really great to be able to support grocers who would not have otherwise had the resources to get on our platform if it weren't for the support of City Hall and the New York City Economic Development Corp."
The pilot program, which is underway, includes independent grocery stores located in neighborhoods identified by the Mayor's Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity, including Harlem, Mott Haven, Brownsville, Hollis, Richmond Hill, and Stapleton. The City of New York is waiving the set-up fee for these stores, typically valued at $1,500, to get them up and running faster and more cost-effectively.
Related: Farmstead Extends In-House Software to Other Grocers; Report: Amazon to Open 1,000 Delivery Hubs.
Photo credit: Mercato
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