Cash-strapped USPS wants to deliver groceries

In an attempt to combat nearly six years of multibillion-dollar losses, the U.S. Postal Service tried to end most Saturday deliveries, reduced hours at many rural post offices and announced the closing of processing plants. Now, USPS wants to enter the grocery business.

The Postal Service sent its proposal last week to the Postal Regulatory Commission, seeking approval from the panel, Josh Hicks reports for The Washington Post. "The agency wants to begin testing on Oct. 24, with the process lasting up to two years although it could choose to make the program permanent at a sooner date."

"Under the plan, USPS would work with retail partners to deliver 'groceries and other prepackaged goods' to homes between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. at locations designated by consumers," Hicks writes. "Participating grocery stores would have to drop off their orders at post offices between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m." The plan has already been tested in San Francisco, where USPS made 160 Amazon grocery deliveries per day to 38 zip codes.

The proposal says: “Ultimately, the Postal Service expects this will generate more package deliveries that do not currently move within the postal system. Grocery deliveries are expanding across the nation, with several different types of companies beginning to offer this service in recent months.” (Read more)