Concerns over food shortages at grocery stores and social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak has prompted many individuals to order their groceries online, leading to an increase in sales for online grocery shopping platforms, such as Rosie, which is based in Ithaca, New York.

The eLab alumni startup (Class of 2013) was founded by Nick Nickitas MBA ’14, providing technology to help independent and local grocery stores get their products online and meet the needs of consumers who wish to purchase their groceries online and have them delivered to their doorsteps.

“[Local retailers] represent the fabric of our country. And we want to see these local retailers survive and thrive,” Nickitas shared with the Cornell Daily Sun. Near Cornell, retailers that partner with Rosie include P&C-Ithaca, Trumansburg Shur-Save and Minier’s Express.

To mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 through the delivery of groceries, Rosie is taking preventative measures and following the best practices laid out by the Food Marketing Institute.

Rosie has made great strides since its launch in 2012. The startup has grown to a team of 25 people, partnered with more than 11 wholesalers and served hundreds of grocery stores in over 40 states, including residents in the Ithaca area. Additionally, Rosie has won many awards, including the 2017 Distinguished Business of the Year Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and the 2019 GenNext Award from Progressive Grocer. More recently, the startup has partnered with DoorDash to improve services for both shoppers and retailers.

Learn more about Rosie and the services it provides in the Cornell Daily Sun.