Online Snack Retailer In The Vanguard Of Grocery Shopping Trend

Direct-to-consumer online food retailing is emerging as a potential, if still small, threat to brick-and-mortar supermarkets. An example of the trend is NatureBox, which sells healthful snacks on its Web site. Following the Netflix model, NatureBox subscribers receive packages of multiple-serving snack bags each month. Products include Praline Pumpkin Seeds, Salted Caramel Pretzel Pops, and French Toast Granola, all made without artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup. The company shipped 50,000 boxes in 2012 – the year it was founded – a million last year, and is expected to ship three million in 2014. NatureBox was named one of the 20 fastest-growing Web merchants in the U.S.