How to Set Up a Grocery Service for Guests

With the rise of short-term rentals, resort stays, corporate housing, and retirement communities, guest expectations have evolved. Travelers and residents alike now look for convenience, personalization, and thoughtful touches — and that includes arriving to a kitchen already stocked with groceries.

If you're a property manager, STR host, professional shopper, or service-based business, offering a grocery delivery or stocking service can set you apart — and create a new income stream.

But how do you set it up? That’s where this guide — and Guest Groceries — comes in.

Step 1: Decide Who You’re Serving

Start by identifying your audience:

• Vacation rental guests in Airbnbs or VRBOs

• Corporate travelers in furnished housing

• Resort visitors expecting luxury service

• Seniors or families in retirement communities

• Local residents needing convenient stocking

Your target audience determines your tone, offerings, and fulfillment process.

Step 2: Choose a Fulfillment Method

Decide how groceries will be sourced and delivered:

• In-house: You or your staff shop and stock the groceries

• Third-party shopper: Partner with a local professional shopper or service provider

• Hybrid model: Offer options for delivery or in-home stocking

This choice affects pricing, scheduling, and what your customers can expect.

Step 3: Set Up Your Online Ordering System

You need more than just a phone number or email to take orders — you need a branded, user-friendly website.

That’s where Guest Groceries comes in. We help you:

• Launch your own custom grocery ordering website

• Brand it with your name, logo, and region

• Choose from preloaded grocery categories or add your own

• Accept orders, payments, and instructions online

  
  

No coding. No marketplaces. No competition. Just your own platform built for your service.

Step 4: Offer the Right Products

Start with essentials, then tailor your catalog to your audience:

• Water, snacks, breakfast items, and beverages

• Meal kits, family bundles, or local specialty items

• Kid-friendly options or senior staples

• Wine, beer, and welcome baskets

You can even upsell seasonal bundles or arrival-day packages.

Step 5: Promote Your Service

Make sure people know you offer this valuable amenity:

• Add it to your rental listings, welcome emails, and check-in instructions

• Provide a QR code or link in the rental unit

• Collaborate with local realtors, property managers, or HOA groups

• Share on social media or community boards

Step 6: Build Loyalty and Feedback

Ask for guest reviews, share success stories, and adjust your offerings based on feedback. A great first experience leads to repeat orders — and referrals.

Ready to Launch Your Grocery Delivery Website?

At Guest Groceries, we make it easy to start your own grocery delivery and stocking service — without building a tech platform from scratch.

You bring the local knowledge.We provide the online tools.

👉 Contact us today for a free demo and let’s build your grocery delivery site.