Coronavirus: Grocer uses robots to delivery grocery orders amid COVID-19 pandemic

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Sunday, March 29, 2020
Grocer using delivery robots during coronavirus pandemic
A market outside of Washington, D.C is experimenting with using robots to deliver groceries amid the COVID-1919 pandemic.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- A market outside of Washington, D.C is experimenting with using robots to deliver groceries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Broad Branch Market, in Chevy Chase, said service remains a top priority.

"It's a big responsibility, we feel like we need to be here," owner Tracy Stannard, told WJLA.

For three days, Stannard has been using four 45-pound robots to deliver goods from her market to neighbors within a mile of her store.

The delivery service is free, as part of a beta test with the company Starship, and a modern twist to the store that has been in the community for a century.

"It has been great, people rely on us for groceries," Stannard said.

The market has also instituted a 10-customer limit inside the store.

One customer said she received her order from the robots in less than 30 minutes.