Plan-it Organic is a new grocery delivery service for the Knoxville area started by a local college student.

Galen Williams, CEO and founder of Plan-it Organic, launched the business July 1. He said he originally started the company to assist busy moms, single dads, and the elderly.

“People in bigger cities such as Manhattan and and Los Angeles, they utilize and appreciate this service,” Williams said. “And so I’d love to bring that joy and convenience to Knoxville.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said there are 20 food deserts in Knoxville. The USDA classifies food deserts as areas that do not have a grocery store within at least one mile, and where there is at least a 20% poverty rate in that area. Plan-it Organic said it hopes to expand into those areas as well.

Customers email their grocery list to Plan-it Organic, Williams said, and the employees grocery shop, then deliver the products on the same day or next day.

“We try to save people time, but at the end of the day, a lot of people just hate going to the grocery store,” Williams said. “And I realized that up front. So, I tried to create the business around that idea.”

Currently, he serves about 30 customers in West Knoxville and Farragut, and averages about 10 deliveries a day.

Bob Varrone, a customer, said he travels a lot and this saves him time going to the store.

“I don’t like grocery shopping very well,” Varrone said. “And if I can give him a list, I use about the same things most of the time so it works out great for me.”

Cindi Altshuler is a stay-at-home mom and likes the convenience it provides.

“It’s more time with my family,” she said. “It’s much more time to do other things that I need to do.”

Williams said shopping and delivery fees are based on the amount of the total bill. People will soon be able to order their groceries through their website.

“It’s the idea that no one like going to the grocery store,” he said. “No one makes time for it, but they have to do it anyway.”(WBIR- Knox County)