Peapod by Giant Offered in D.C. Metro Stations

After a delay of nearly a year, Giant Food of Maryland LLC and Washington, D.C.’s Metro train system are finally rolling out this week a six-month pilot that will enable commuters to order groceries online and pick them up as they leave stations in the evening, according to a published report.

Peapod by Giant has established distribution points at the Fort Totten, Glenmont and Vienna Metro stations. Citing representatives of both entities, The Washington Post reports that if the pilot is successful, it could expand to more of the Metro’s 91 stations and to other markets beyond D.C.

Metro users will be able to place and pay for grocery orders via Peapod, with pickup options of 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The service will then deliver the orders to pods at each station, and an on-site associate will give out the groceries to customers. Payment will take place online, and no food will remain in the pods overnight.

The Post attributed the pilot’s delay from last spring to Metro’s needing to deal with safety and financial issues.