What do you think of www.zebluebox.fr ?

Zebluebox website offers an interesting alternative to traditional brick to mortar food business. It enables customers to benefit from a high quality offer (notably cheeses maturated by Philippe Ollivier) through a network of delivery sites close to the customers who do not necessary benefit from such an offer close to their homes.

As you have seen it on our web site, part of our distribution is based on a pick-up point network. Part of them are family owned groceries. What do you think of that ?

This is interesting for grocers to gain the loyalty of customers through a specific offer. Agreements with websites such as Zebluebox enable them to differentiate from competitors, to reach new potential customers as well as to enrich the creation of social link.

What future would you say lies for them ?

The actual situation of grocers is not an easy one as they face competition from distributors which has moved towards downtown customers demand, notably by extended open hours. Furthermore, they are facing a generation change. Their children do not necessary want to follow up on the business. However, as they are independent, they keep reactivity and hospitality values that distributors do not necessary have. They have to reorganise, either through products differenciation, additional services (such as the same people delivering orders) or purchase grouping.

Finally, why did you write your book: l'Arabe du Coin ?

Within « loneliness nests » that cities represent, grocers serve the french community as a whole, from old people to children, from homeless people to high revenue ones. They contribute in such to the creation of social link, beyond age differences or status.