Key Food Taps Swiftly in Digital Overhaul to Compete with Retail Giants

SEATTLE, WA – January 15, 2026 – Key Food Stores Co-Operative, Inc., a network of more than 460 family-owned supermarkets, today announced a major partnership with retail technology firm Swiftly to transform its digital shopping experience. The collaboration will see Key Food adopt Swiftly’s comprehensive App & Web platform, a strategic move designed to help the independent grocer compete more effectively against national chains, deepen shopper engagement, and tap into the lucrative world of retail media.

Founded in Brooklyn in 1937, the co-operative, which includes banners like Food Universe, The Food Emporium, and SuperFresh, generates $5.5 billion in annual sales across eight states. This partnership signals a significant investment in future-proofing its operations in an industry where a digital presence is no longer optional, but essential for survival and growth.

A Digital Lifeline for Independent Grocers

In today's fiercely competitive grocery market, independent and regional chains face immense pressure from retail goliaths like Amazon and Walmart, which possess vast technological resources. With over 70% of U.S. shoppers now beginning their grocery journey online, the need for a sophisticated and seamless digital front door has become paramount. For many independent operators, the cost and complexity of developing such technology in-house is prohibitive.

This is where technology providers like Swiftly are creating a crucial lifeline. By offering turnkey, enterprise-grade solutions, they aim to “level the playing field,” giving smaller retailers access to the same powerful digital tools used by their largest competitors. The partnership will equip Key Food with a unified digital ecosystem, replacing what customer reviews suggest is a fragmented landscape of existing mobile apps with mixed performance. This move is intended to streamline operations and present a consistent, high-quality brand experience to shoppers across all banners.

“Key Food currently operates in eight states and in our largest market we are serving over 8 million shoppers,” said Dean Janeway, CEO of Key Food Stores Co-Operative, Inc. “Partnering with Swiftly is a strategic investment in our future and allows us to create a more connected, personalized experience that drives bigger baskets, deeper loyalty, and sustainable growth.”

Swiftly’s platform has a proven track record, with the company reporting that its retail partners consistently see measurable lifts in basket sizes, trip frequency, and digital engagement. The goal is to transform Key Food’s digital touchpoints from simple informational sites into dynamic hubs of commerce and loyalty.

Beyond the Big Box: Tapping into Retail Media

Perhaps the most significant financial aspect of this partnership is the move into retail media. The digital retail media market, where retailers sell advertising space on their own digital properties to CPG brands, is projected to become a $100 billion industry by 2027. This partnership positions Key Food to claim a piece of that rapidly growing pie.

By integrating Swiftly's platform, Key Food can launch its own retail media network. This allows CPG brands to purchase targeted advertising placements within Key Food’s app and website, reaching shoppers at the critical moment of purchase consideration. For brands, the appeal is the ability to connect with relevant consumers and receive closed-loop reporting that demonstrates a clear return on ad spend (iROAS), which Swiftly claims averages between $25 and $35 for its partners.

For Key Food, this opens a new, high-margin revenue stream that diversifies its income beyond the traditionally thin margins of grocery sales. It allows the co-operative to monetize its most valuable asset: its first-party shopper data. As privacy regulations tighten and third-party cookies are phased out, this direct relationship with the customer and the data it generates becomes an even more powerful competitive advantage.

Personalized Aisles and the Modern Shopper

The ultimate success of this digital transformation will be measured by the customer. The new platform aims to overhaul the shopper experience, making it more convenient, personalized, and engaging. While Key Food has an existing web and app presence, user feedback indicates a need for improvement, with some customers citing slow performance and usability issues. The Swiftly integration is designed to address these pain points directly with a polished, intuitive, and unified interface.

One of the standout features Key Food will roll out is Swiftly’s integrated Alcohol Cashback™ solution. This tool digitizes the traditionally cumbersome process of mail-in rebates for alcohol purchases. Shoppers will be able to receive cashback for qualifying purchases within hours via PayPal or Venmo. Critically, the program is fully funded by alcohol suppliers and managed by Swiftly as a third-party intermediary, ensuring compliance with the complex web of state-level alcohol sales regulations while removing the administrative burden from Key Food.

Beyond specific features, the platform’s core strength lies in personalization. By analyzing shopper data, the system can deliver tailored digital coupons, personalized weekly ads, and relevant product recommendations. This level of customization not only improves the shopping experience but also fosters a deeper sense of loyalty, making customers feel understood and valued.

“Digitally engaged shoppers are a retailer’s most valuable asset, and Key Food is taking bold action to lead in this new era,” said Henry Kim, Co-founder and CEO of Swiftly. “Swiftly exists to level the playing field for independent grocers, and with Key Food we see tremendous opportunity to create measurable value—greater shopper loyalty, increased in-store traffic, and long-term revenue growth across all 460+ stores.”

The Road Ahead: Implementation and Industry Impact

The rollout of Swiftly’s solutions across Key Food's extensive network of stores is scheduled to begin in the coming months. This phased implementation will bring new digital tools and personalized shopping experiences to communities across the East Coast and Florida, reinforcing the local, family-owned identity of the stores while providing a world-class digital interface.

This partnership underscores a broader industry trend where independent grocers are no longer standing by but are actively investing in technology to secure their future. While other platforms like Mercatus, My Cloud Grocer, and Instacart offer competing solutions, Swiftly’s integrated approach combining a white-label platform with a robust retail media engine and unique compliance-focused features like Alcohol Cashback™ provides a compelling package for a co-operative of Key Food's scale and structure.

For the millions of shoppers who rely on Key Food and its affiliate banners, this collaboration promises a more modern, rewarding, and convenient way to shop. By embracing this digital transformation, the 89-year-old co-operative is making a decisive move to not only survive but thrive for generations to come, proving that local grocers can innovate and compete in the digital age.