Meijer's Mealbox attracts thousands

CHICAGO A new service offered by Midwest big-box chain Meijer that allows customers to create online shopping lists has proven an even bigger success than it originally anticipated.

Thousands of customers have begun using Mealbox, and 50 percent of users have redeemed their coupons. Developed by a principal at e-commerce firm Fry Inc., Mealbox is a widget on Meijer’s Web site that lets users browse products and recipes while digitally offering coupons for any products that have them. Users can then print out the coupons, which come with barcodes.

Meijer, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., operates stores in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky.