12 week pilot program offers healthy choices for local families

Keasbey, NJ (December 13, 2013) - Supermarkets of Cherry Hill, Inc., a family business which owns and operates five ShopRite stores in southern New Jersey, has partnered with the Center for Family Services (CFS) in a pilot program designed to bring healthy food options to the Camden community. Beginning December 12, ShopRite from Home® will bring fresh, healthy food to Camden residents through a pilot program with the Center for Family Services (CFS).

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's Administration has spearheaded the new initiative to address urban food deserts through the use of online ordering of groceries from supermarkets. Without access to supermarkets, residents of food deserts are typically left with limited access to affordable healthy foods.

As part of the program, CFS will provide Camden City residents with free access to computers so that they can choose their fresh groceries for delivery, ordering support, and provide training on a variety of related issues, including workshops on nutrition and budgeting. Combining the latest in mobile and digital technology with ShopRite's low prices and exceptional customer service, ShopRite from Home allows customers to place online orders from their home computer or mobile device and have their groceries delivered. The store's personal shopper selects the items directly from store shelves, ensuring that they are fresh. ShopRite from Home customers enjoy the same savings as in-store shoppers do; they can even shop online right from the ShopRite's weekly sale circular. And ShopRite customers can use their ShopRite Price Plus Club card for added savings. Manufacturer's and digital coupons are accepted as well and customers can pay for their groceries using checks, credit cards, debit cards or EBT cards.

The orders will be delivered to CFS Promise Neighborhood Family Success Center and Camden City's Isabelle Miller Community Center where residents can pick them up during a scheduled time at their convenience.

"We are proud to partner with ShopRite to provide this valuable service to the Camden City community," said Merilee Rutolo, Vice President, Center For Family Services. "This effort is part of our Promise Neighborhood pipeline because we have seen the difficulties families face with access to affordable and healthy food options. We are always looking for new and innovative ways to better serve the Camden community and bringing fresh, healthy food to our residents is very important. At the end of the twelve week pilot, we hope to see increased use of the virtual supermarket initiative and have a long term goal of improving the health outcomes and food access of Camden City children and families." Rutolo also noted that CFS is seeking grants to offset the ongoing costs of running this program beyond the twelve week pilot.

"This pilot program is a great way to provide access to healthy and affordable food and will allow residents without access to cars or public transportation to have their groceries delivered to a centrally located designated pick-up facility," said Jason Ravitz, Vice President, Retail Operations for Supermarkets of Cherry Hill, Inc., which currently operates five ShopRite stores in southern New Jersey. "This is an exciting new beginning for ShopRite in Camden and we look forward to the opening of our new store in 2015 so we can fully serve the community."

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