Grocery delivery app taps major chain veteran to develop business

Starbucks knows a thing or two about developing business across channels, and on-demand, app-based grocery delivery service Shipt is bringing that expertise in-house.



Birmingham, Alabama-based Shipt has named Joe Manning, former Starbucks director of business and channel development, to lead business development. Shipt is looking to Manning to establish and grow partnerships with grocers and CPG companies as the company expands.



“The Shipt marketplace and logistics platform allows grocers to serve the growing demand for grocery delivery,” said Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Shipt. “With the addition of Joe, we are positioned to forge additional partnerships and further our mission of simplifying lives for families and helping grocers grow their incremental sales.”



Manning held several business development, channel development and licensed store management positions at Starbucks and Starbucks Canada between March 2005 and December 2015. His most recent title at the coffee retailer was head of business development and channel development for Starbucks Canada.



During his 10-year tenure at Starbucks, Manning’s accomplishments included leading the integration of Starbucks licensed stores into national chains including Safeway, Kroger and Target. He also led the consumer packaged goods (CPG) integration of Starbucks coffees onto supermarket shelves on the West Coast.



“For the past year, I have been watching Shipt closely, and I am thrilled to now be a member of the team,” said Manning. “Based on Shipt’s emerging priorities, we are ready to pursue partnerships aggressively with grocers, retailers and consumer products companies. The Shipt platform enables grocers and manufacturers to extend their brand promise through delivery all the way to the customers’ homes.”



Through the Shipt app, members shop for groceries, note any preferences, choose a one-hour delivery window for delivery and pay for their order. Shipt connects members with local Shipt shoppers to shop at partner grocers, pick their items and deliver them to home or office. Shipt’s grocery delivery service currently operates in 24 cities.



Shipt is operating in an extremely competitive niche which includes established players such as Instacart, AmazonFresh and Google Express, as well as startups such as Wholeshare and even non-traditional entrants like Foursquare. The company will need the all the help it can get to establish position, and knowhow from a retail/CPG juggernaut like Starbucks could certainly prove beneficial.