Peapod by Giant expands in D.C. to serve former Home Runs` households

Peapod by Giant, the joint effort of Skokie, IL-based Peapod Inc. online grocer and Landover, MD-based supermarket chain Giant Food Inc., is expanding into the Northeast and Southeast Washington D.C. area and Northeastern Prince George’s County Maryland. Peapod and Giant are owned by The Netherlands-based international food provider Royal Ahold.

Northeast Washington D.C. is the first area slated for service, with deliveries expected to begin this week. The Peapod by Giant expansion will roll out in stages through mid-September, with delivery available in all new areas by September 19.

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This is the online grocer’s second expansion since the service started in the region in late 2000. Peapod by Giant began serving the Washington D.C. area in November 2000 after acquiring the former operations of Gaithersburg, MD-based online grocer Streamline.com. The grocer expanded into Howard County, MD, in April.

Peapod is taking aim at the business of a former competitor--Burlington, MA-based Home Runs.com, which had been expanding in the Washington D.C. area before it went out of business in July.

"With the recent closure of another online grocer serving the area, the demand for our service has increased even more,” said Marc van Gelder, Peapod's president and CEO. “We are excited about expanding the Peapod by Giant service to new areas with very strong potential. These new areas were previously served by our competitor and many residents have become accustomed to doing their grocery shopping online.”