Fresh Midwest delivery service to launch into northern Chicago
Fresh Midwest, an online produce and meal delivery service, will launch in northern Chicago in early 2021.
The company will serve customers from Kenosha, Wis., through the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, according to a news release.
Fresh Midwest founders, owners and twin brothers Patrick and Mike Fitzgerald grew up in their family’s Chicago-based Midwest Foods wholesale business.
Mike Fitzgerald’s friendship with Thomas Parkinson, co-founder of Peapod, inspired the twins to create this new venture. Peapod ceased operations in the Midwest in February.
“Fresh Midwest is delivering a need for fresh food to consumers’ homes on the day and time they want it,” Parkinson said in the release. “Fresh has always been a challenge for any online company, but I am impressed with their experience and attention to quality and selection.”
Joining the Fitzgerald brothers at Fresh Midwest are two former Peapod veterans: Tony Stallone as chief merchant and Mary Rose Neises as marketing lead.
Stallone, known as the “Produce Guru” and creator of meal kits at Peapod, was there as vice president of merchandising for 20 years.
During Neises’ 17-year tenure at Peapod, she drove e-commerce customer loyalty initiatives and was senior director of the Midwest and Washington, D.C., markets.
Fresh Midwest operates with limited handling of products and contactless delivery, a standard emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the release.
Based in both Chicago and Kenosha, Wis., with more than 200 employees, the facilities meet food safety standards set by The Safe Quality Food Institute.
Related news:
Produce industry sees online models influencing packaging landscape
Top Chicago retail rankings hold steady
