Eight months after Circle K’s parent company led a $25 million investment in Food Rocket, the San Francisco-based rapid delivery provider announced a joint expansion to deliver groceries and convenience products in Charlotte, NC.
Food Rocket founder Vitaly Alexandrov
Through its app, Food Rocket will offer up to 7,000 SKUs, with a focus on grocery and convenience products, Circle K’s breakfast sandwiches, tacos, burgers, pizza, coffee, snacks and bakery products, as well as hundreds of cold beverages, beers and nicotine products, among others. All orders will be delivered from two micro-fulfillment centers occupying between 170 and 500 square feet at Circle K’s locations at 8505 S. Tryon St. and 8008 Harris Station Blvd.
“Our aim is to bring a one-stop-shop approach to all the customers and save the most valuable thing—their time while increasing the range of products we offer to customers. I believe the whole rapid delivery industry is diversifying to become closer to customers at lower cost,” said Vitaly Alexandrov, CEO and founder of Food Rocket.
Food Rocket said it will also create 100 new jobs in the city. The company added that it “continues to be one of the few startups offering full-time and part-time employment to all of its employees.”
Circle K parent company Alimentation Couche-Tard is a global player in the convenience space, with more than 7,000 U.S. locations and more than 14,300 worldwide. Earlier this year, the company acquired a minority equity stake in Food Rocket.
“As consumer needs and expectations continue to evolve, we’re exploring ways to bring the Circle K brand experience to them where they are and make their lives easier. Food Rocket has an amazing team, a unique approach to quick delivery and a differentiated platform that has the potential to be a powerful engine for convenience, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this pilot in Charlotte resonates with our customers,” said Kevin Lewis, chief marketing officer at Couche-Tard.
Food Rocket launched in San Francisco in April 2021, followed by a Chicago expansion in February 2022. The company claims it takes just 2-3 minutes to process the order, with deliveries arriving in approximately 10 minutes. Food Rocket guarantees delivery within a time frame specified in the app, or it will be free.
