After three months of testing, Wal-Mart launched its own grocery subscription service Nov. 14, offering members the chance to receive a monthly package filled with sample-sized sweets and snacks they can’t find at most stores. Each month, a Taster’s Box arrives with five to eight items chosen by Wal-Mart Labs specialists. Members can sample the products, leave online reviews and order full-size versions of their favorites.

Membership for the subscription service, called Goodies, costs $7 a month, but the company promises the value of each Taster’s Box to be about $15. Wal-Mart began testing the service three months ago and currently has about 3,000 subscribers. The November Taster’s Box includes Alter Eco dark quinoa chocolate, Biscoff smooth spread, Oogies white cheddar popcorn, Flourless Bliss chocolate soufflé mix, Bobby Sue’s Nuts, American Wine Biscuits and a Bigelow pumpkin pie spice tea bag. Previous boxes have included products such as Nutella, Juicefulls Fruit Wave, Rooibee Red Tea, Wai Lana herb and garlic chips, World Peas, Pip van Wafels and Anna’s Ginger Thins.

Wal-Mart Labs vice president of products Ravi Raj told the Associated Press a food subscription service was a good choice for Wal-Mart because food is “inherently very social.
“People love to talk about new food products,” Raj said. “Wal-Mart is the largest grocer but there’s room for us to innovate.”

Wal-Mart did not invent the business model, however. Subscription services have been applied to consumer categories such as make-up, coffee, toys and even underwear. Grocery subscription services have also been around for some time, but at higher prices. The Knosh Box, for example, offers posh food items for $30 a month. Foodies can subscribe to Love With Food for $12 a month, and Sprig offers monthly snacks for $26.95. Those interested in trying out a Goodies subscription can request an invitation at Goodies’ Web site.

Samantha Lile

Samantha Lile is a 2002 Missouri State University graduate of journalism and mass media. She has served as a reporter and editor for various newspapers throughout her journalism career. She made the leap into writing full-time after working for a major financial institution since 2000.

Because of her banking background, Samantha is knowledgeable in finance reporting, but is also strong in commentaries, personal profiles, youth studies, horticulture, history and entertainment-related works.

Samantha lives in Ozark, Mo. with her husband of nine years, four dogs and two cats.

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