*By Amanda Weston*
Grocery chain Kroger launched a new delivery service Wednesday to compete with industry giants Amazon and Walmart.
[Kroger Ship](https://ship.kroger.com/) offers more than 50,000 products to online shoppers in Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville, and Nashville. The chain aims to lure new customers with curated options, free shipping for orders over $35, and discounts.
Online shopping accounts for about 2 percent of the American food-and-beverage market, but it's rapidly expanding.
"When you look at all these new channels in the industry, they are growing extremely, extremely fast," Yael Cosset, Kroger's chief digital officer, said Thursday in an interview with Cheddar.
This isn't Kroger's first attempt at online delivery. The grocery chain has offered delivery service from almost half its 2,800 stories through Instacart.
The new service represents the chain's ambition to make shopping easier for its customers ー and help keep its brick and mortar businesses stable.
"The direct interaction with some of the fresh assortment ー produce, meat, seafood, cheese ー experiential engagement is still very important to them," he said. "They do, however, still want the convenience and simplicity that a digital engagement can offer."
Kroger is going up against Amazon, a formidable competitor, [which sold](https://www.wsj.com/articles/kroger-to-launch-grocery-delivery-service-1533117720) about $650 million worth of food items in the second quarter, up 40 percent from 2017.
As for Kroger Ship's future, Cosset said digital partnerships will also play a major role in growth.
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/kroger-introduces-kroger-ship-delivery-service).
Some major and promising developments on the path forward in the pandemic, plus the GOP lines up behind Trump's refusal to concede the election, 2020 breaks another record and who will fill Alex Trebek's shoes?
Health experts say a safe Thanksgiving during a pandemic is possible, but they know their advice is as tough to swallow as dry, overcooked turkey.
John Matze, CEO of Parler, says he welcomes Republicans and Democrats alike to create "discussion, debate, and discourse" on the popular "free speech social network."
Jill and Carlo go over what happened in an historic weekend as Joe Biden preps to become the 46th president. Also: Trump won't concede, Alex Trebek has died, and predictions for the week.
Jill and Carlo end the week with the latest updates on the state of the presidential race, why Georgia could determine control of the Senate, some final thoughts on the election & Love, Hate, Ate - Election Night Edition.
The National Toy Hall of Fame has inducted its Class of 2020. The three honorees revealed Thursday are Baby Nancy, sidewalk chalk and the wooden block game Jenga.
The AP calls Michigan and Wisconsin for Biden as the lawsuits start flying. With Dems' disappointing down-ballot, is divided gov't good for business? Or America? Plus, everyone got drunk on Election Night.
Where things stand in the presidential and Senate races as day breaks on the East Coast.
Voters in Arizona, Montana, and New Jersey will vote on adult-use cannabis legalization, while voters in Mississippi will decide on medical cannabis and South Dakota will consider both medical and adult-use simultaneously.
Police are investigating vandalism that left several headstones at a Jewish cemetery in Grand Rapids spray-painted with “TRUMP” and “MAGA” before President Donald Trump held his final campaign rally in the western Michigan city.
