Sam’s Club says members want fresh food on their own terms—and the club is racing to meet them where they are.
Story Snapshot
- Sam’s Club executive Myron Frazier says shoppers want fresh food plus convenience like delivery and curbside.
- The warehouse model is shifting toward weekly meals, not just bulk stock-ups.
- Competitors are adding speedy delivery and app tools to keep members loyal.
- Faster trips and ready-to-cook meals now sit at the center of club strategy.
Sam’s Club Moves Fresh Food From Perk To Priority
Sam’s Club Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer Myron Frazier told FOX Business that members still want value, but now expect fresh food delivered, curbside pickup, and time-saving meal options. He framed it as “fresh food on their own terms,” and tied it to real behavior: more people want dinner solutions that fit busy lives, not a weekend chore list. That message works because it stays grounded in a simple truth—saving time is as valuable as saving money.
Sam’s Club is investing behind that claim. The company pushes ready-to-cook and ready-to-heat items, and leans on faster fulfillment from local clubs, not far-off warehouses. The retail playbook links convenience to membership value. If members can plan Tuesday’s dinner plus Saturday’s party tray in one app session and one pickup window, they come back more often. That habit matters more than a single big cart. It builds stickiness without heavy coupon games.
Sam's Club exec says members increasingly want fresh food 'on their own terms' https://t.co/kHzKKyOLW6
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) October 5, 2026
Why Convenience Now Drives Membership Loyalty
Warehouse clubs won by offering big sizes at low prices. That still counts. But the weekly grind has changed. Households want fewer stops and faster answers at 5 p.m. Industry data shows clubs adding curbside pickup, same-day delivery, and stronger mobile apps to become routine shopping stops, not occasional stock-up runs. When clubs become part of the weekly basket, they earn more trips and deeper trust. That is good business and common sense for families guarding time and money.
Competitors prove the point. Costco widened its delivery reach through a partner to cover most states, putting hot demand items only a few taps away. BJ’s boosted its fresh share by training teams and tightening perishable supply lines, which helped pull more grocery trips into the club channel. The pattern is clear: if clubs solve fresh and fast, members reward them with more of the household list.
Fresh Food, Faster: How The Model Is Changing
Speed now lives inside the club. Sam’s Club highlights express delivery fulfilled from clubs and points to rapid order-to-door times measured in minutes, not half-days. That model cuts the gap between a craving and a cart. It also shrinks the penalty for forgetting an item. The payoff is frequency. Shorter, more frequent orders are easier when the club sits in your pocket via the app. That cadence ties the brand to weekdays, not just big weekends.
Research on club shoppers backs this up. A large share say one-stop shopping is a top draw, and many buy fresh produce and dairy at clubs, not only bulky pantry goods. When clubs pair that core basket with curbside pickup and fast delivery, they lower the “time tax” that keeps people away. The policy view here is simple: let private operators compete to save families time and money. When they do, customers keep more of both. That is the essence of market choice and practical value.
What Changes For Your Cart Next
Expect more meal kits sized for families, more prepped proteins and sides, and more digital tools that recommend what pairs well tonight. Expect cleaner handoffs between app, curbside, and delivery so you can shift plans without friction. Expect more clear pricing that rewards membership across channels, not just in-aisle. These steps keep the math honest: save time, get quality fresh food, and hold the total bill down. That is the triangle shoppers actually live inside.
The bet from Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s is that convenience can lock in loyalty without government lifts or gimmicks. They are building speed, quality, and price discipline into one track. If they keep that balance, families win the weekday, retailers win repeat trips, and the market keeps doing what it does best—making life a little easier at a fair price.
Sources:
foxbusiness.com, grocerydive.com, coresight.com
