An American icon returns to Chattanooga with the advent of the Milkmen Company, a shopping service providing the option of groceries delivered directly to your doorstep by owners Matt and William Oehmig and Brian Hennen.
Matt Oehmig said the purpose of the Milkmen is to make grocery shopping as convenient, efficient and effortless as possible, with the added touch of nostalgic all-white outfits.
“Grocery shopping has never been a luxury until now,” he said. “It’s such a helpful service for people who can’t get out.”
The Milkmen Company owners Brian Hennen, Matt Oehmig and William Oehmig, from left, offer grocery delivery and pick-up services to Chattanooga and the surrounding regions.Single moms, busy dual-income families, the elderly in assisted living facilities, the ill and students in college and high school dorms are just a few examples of the types of people the service appeals to, and the Milkmen said they are encouraged by the positive feedback they have received since opening on Tremont Street in North Chattanooga in March.
Customers visit the Milkmen website to type out their grocery list and receive confirmation of their order by phone or e-mail, said William Oehmig.
For those who are not technologically savvy, he said customers can also phone in orders, and paper forms have been distributed to area grocery stores.
“We ask them to be as item and brand specific as possible, and we reserve the right to make automatic substitutions if the chosen item is unavailable,” he said.
The delivery charge within a 7-mile radius is 15 percent of the customer’s total grocery order, which must reach at least $40 or else incur an additional $7 charge. Delivery to suburbs outside of the radius is $5 extra, and William Oehmig said all first-time customers currently receive a 10 percent discount off the delivery fee.
Matt Oehmig said areas served by the Milkmen include St. Elmo, Highland Park, East Brainerd, Ooltewah, Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, Elder Mountain, North Chattanooga and the surrounding regions.
He said a pickup service is also available. The Milkmen ask to be given at least a 24-hour notice for orders to be filled, said William Oehmig.
Added benefits to utilizing a service of this kind are that it promotes an awareness of what you are consuming and discourages the spontaneous buying which often occurs at the store, he said.
They said the website will feature locally made specialty packages including Senior Shan’s Hot Sauce and Aretha Frankenstein pancakes, as well as recipes to help customers easily plan their meals for the week and order all the necessary ingredients with just one click.
Customers are welcome to order items available only at particular stores, such as Greenlife, Whole Foods, Bi-Lo, Fresh Market and Asian markets, said Matt Oehmig.
The Milkmen Company is strictly a shopping service and does not sell items wholesale like many grocery delivery services, allowing it to save customers both time and money, said William Oehmig. They said they plan to offer deals for repeat customers and save grocery lists to make reordering easier.
“Any clients we have we try to satisfy 110 percent,” said Matt Oehmig. “Since it’s just the three of us, it’s easier to give personalized service.”