More On Eco-Friendly Grocery Deliverers Bread-n-Brie

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Choice words from newbie grocery delivery service Bread-n-Brie's press release, which just landed in our inbox: "butlers," "gourmet," and, of course, "brie." Wonder to whom, exactly, they are catering? The company, which seeks to distinguish itself from Fresh Direct by a green grocery delivery system wherein hand-pushed carts are used in place of trucks for drop offs, currently only delivers to two tony neighborhoods: NYU territory (between 11th and Bleecker) and the Upper East Side (between 64th and 98th). BnB founder Ilya Zeldin, who previously worked as the president of NetBait, a security company offering hacker-prevention services (well, at least that's what we found via a quick Googling session), has extended an olive branch of sorts to residents of other neighborhoods, who can petition for services in their hoods. Though the release doesn't really offer any new information, it does succinctly sum up the company's mission.
· Green Grocery Delivery Service Bread-n-Brie Launches [Racked]
· Fresh Direct-Like Delivery Service Readies For Launch [Racked]

The Green Team is Here!
New Food Delivery Company is Taking Environmentally Friendly Approach
Long Island City, May 23, 2007 –
Bread-n-Brie (www.breadnbrie.com), New York’s new online gourmet supermarket, introduced the first eco-friendly approach to deliveries in Manhattan. Instead of using the traditional fleet of trucks, the company relies on established food venues as drop off locations. “We didn’t want to add to the congestion and pollution of our city,” says the company’s founder Ilya Zeldin. “So we are making the first honest attempt to create a truly green method of last mile delivery.”

Individual orders are delivered from these locations by Bread-n-Brie staff (known as BnButlers) in environmentally- and traffic-friendly custom carts. Packaging is neat and conservative – no needless wraps or layers, only enough to keep food fresh and safe. Customers may also pick up orders from neighborhood locations, saving the $5 delivery fee. The company also offers a $1.50 “BnBribe” good for any purchase at the pick-up location.

About Bread-n-Brie
Bread-n-Brie launched in mid-May after 1.5 years of preparation. With over 10,000 items to choose from, the company strives to establish a new level of quality and service for New Yorkers. From food preparation to last mile delivery, all orders support local purveyors of fine food who, in turn, ensure that customers receive the best quality, the widest range of hand-selected items, and the greatest attention to every detail.