User:Spudwiki/Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery

Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery

Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery or Spud (Official Website) is an online grocer that delivers to residences and offices in 6 locations: Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Founded in 1997, Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery is popular for its convenience and focus on providing local and organic food options.

Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery (Spud) was originally founded as Small Potatoes Urban Delivery in 1997 by David van Seters, a former National Environmental Practice Leader for KPMG

History

While completing a study on the economics of sustainable community food systems for the University of California at Davis, David discovered the idea of a direct home delivery business as a way of connecting consumers with high quality, locally sourced food. More than just a way to offer groceries more conveniently, a home delivery business could also benefit the environment by reducing car trips to the grocery store and eliminating waste from retail operations.

Timeline

Inspired by his findings, David hired three staff and began making deliveries out of a Vancouver warehouse in March 1998. Since then, Spud has grown to service over 6 locations, including Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco with revenues over $17 million.

March 1998: 	First deliveries made in Vancouver, Canada.

March 2000:	Spud completes acquisition of 4 competing delivery firms.

February 2001:	Spud expands Vancouver operations to a new warehouse with increased capacity

May 2002:	Spud completes acquisition of 2 more competing delivery firms.

October 2002:	Spud receives the Ethics in Action award for environmental and social leadership from the B.C. Ethics in Action Society.

January 2003:	Spud expands operations to Vancouver Island.

May 2004:	Spud begins offering Fair Trade bananas and mangoes, one of the first retailers to do so.

September 2005:	Spud expands operations to Seattle.

October 2005:	Spud expands operations to Calgary.

April 2008:	Spud expands operations to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland

October 2009:	Spud receives the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for its green practices.

July 2010:	Peter van Stolk, former CEO and founder of Jones Soda becomes CEO of Spud