Online Grocery Shopping Comes to Paramus

Mayor Richard LaBarbiera received two boxes of food to donate to charity from Rick Braddock, CEO of online supermarket FreshDirect, at Borough Hall Monday morning.

The food, which included a variety of items such as fruits, spices, coffee and bottled water, was delivered to officially begin FreshDirect’s food delivery service to Paramus.

“It’s a great way to kick off their entry to the borough,” LaBarbiera said.

FreshDirect joins an already competitive grocery market in Paramus, which has the third-highest number of grocery stores per capita in the country, according to a recent report from Pinpoint Demographics, a research firm.

“Paramus is a very desirable location for all retail,” LaBarbiera said. “Over the past couple of years we have seen an expansion of supermarkets in particular. There is a demand, and retailers come here to fill that need.”

Braddock said he is confident that FreshDirect will find a place in Paramus, despite the competition.

“Our supply chain is much shorter to the customer, so the product gets there much fresher,” Braddock said. He also explained that prices for Paramus customers are in line with other local stores, rather than those found in New York, where the company is based.

“No matter where we are, we make our customers smarter shoppers,” Braddock added. He cited the advantages of online shopping, which he said cuts down on impulse purchases and lets customers see the total cost of items before purchasing them. “The convenience is obviously important, and the time saving, but where our customers become loyal to us is the smart shopping perspectives.”