Aug 11, 2004 1:33 PM, from staff and wire reports

Internet grocer Peapod LLC and Giant Food have expanded service to the Baltimore MD area, beginning delivery August 17. Communities such as Owings Mills, Garrison, Pikesville, Hunt Valley, Timonium, Towson, and Mount Washington can now visit www.giantfood.com/ to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, dairy, and meat as well as national brands and Giant private-label items. These areas represent more than 246,000 households.

Peapod by Giant’s Stay Fresh delivery system exceeds food safety standards and maintains products at optimum temperature and freshness, from the distribution center to a customer’s front door. Peapod’s order-fulfillment technology and transportation routing system help achieve accuracy and efficiency in picking, packing, and delivering grocery orders.

Founded in 1989, Skokie IL-based Peapod is a wholly owned subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Ahold.