A little more than a year ago, Duncan Laing took over a small side business bringing seafood to Central Oregonians’ doorsteps.

The concept was simple: Laing would pick up the catch from fishermen who had flash frozen it right on the boats. He would bring it back to his freezers in Bend. He would then send an e-mail list to customers about the latest goods available.

Local residents took the bait.

“My goal was to build up my direct-to-consumer list,” he said. “I started with a hundred or so e-mail addresses and now I’m up to 2,000.”

Part of the rapid growth of Laing’s business, Precious Cargo Seafood Co., is undoubtedly interest in its products. But another element to his success, Laing said, is his willingness to deliver.

His customers, like John Stiff of Bend, like the ease of home delivery. Stiff, 74, just received a 15-pound box of frozen cod from Laing last week.

“It’s tough to beat,” Stiff said. “And the fish definitely is fresh.”

Delivery these days isn’t just for pizza. There are ways in Central Oregon to get groceries transported from store to door.

Some merchants make delivery an established feature of their business. Bend-based Agricultural Connections, for instance, sets aside a morning each week to bring online orders of local, organic food to homes and workplaces for a fee.

Others don’t make delivery an overt part of their services but will provide it on a case-by-case basis. Several grocery stores contacted last week said they prefer not to publicize delivery but do offer it.

And even that classic food delivery service, Schwan’s, is about more than ice cream these days. Throughout much of Central Oregon, Schwan’s delivers goods ranging from bread to soup to sushi.

High gas prices have put pressure on area businesses’ willingness to deliver — Laing recently started asking customers for minimum dollar amounts on orders, as it became too pricey for him to drive one fillet to Sisters. Yet the message given by area merchants about delivery is clear: It never hurts to ask.

Growing interest

Grocery delivery has long been a part of the food formula in some regions of the country.

Stiff remembers his parents using delivery occasionally during his childhood in Ohio. And New Yorkers have access to numerous businesses willing to haul groceries throughout the city.

Yet some indicators show grocery delivery might become more widespread.

Wal-Mart, the largest grocer in the country, began testing a new delivery service called Wal-Mart to Go in April in the San Jose, Calif.,-area, the New York Times reported. Analysts looked at the development as a move to reach customers beyond the large, stocking-up shopping trip.

The service allows customers to assemble their shopping lists and place their orders online. Wal-Mart then does the shopping and delivers for a $5 fee. Offerings on the Wal-Mart to Go website go beyond packaged foods into fresh goods like milk and vegetables.

Safeway also offers grocery delivery in some areas of the country, including throughout the Portland-Vancouver area.

Portland-based Safeway spokesman Dan Floyd said the service has proved popular, particularly during the holiday season. Safeway delivers the alcoholic drinks normally found in its stores in addition to grocery goods, and it’s particularly popular when people throw festivities. Floyd said they regularly deliver deli platters and beverages by the case.

Floyd also said while there are presently no plans to expand delivery to Central Oregon, the region shows plenty of interest in the service.

“The Bend market asks the question most frequently about when are we going to get home delivery,” he said.

“I don’t get the question from Eugene or Corvallis,” he continued, “I get it from Bend.”

Local delivery

In Central Oregon, most large grocery stores are out of the delivery picture.

Availability varies by the store. But most Ray’s Food Place locations throughout the region will offer delivery. Prices vary by location.

But for those whose favorite store doesn’t do transport, there are other options for delivery service. A number of small enterprises will do the shopping for you.

One such example is Gilead Leventhal, whose business is called Wanna Life. She said she does myriad tasks for people, including grocery shopping. She charges $20 an hour, and the client must pay for the groceries.

“Every woman wants a life,” she said. “If a person has kids and work and family, they just can’t get it all done.”

The Central Oregon Council on Aging, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping seniors, maintains a list of individuals willing to provide services such as grocery shopping (see “COCOA’s list”). All of those listed have been interviewed and through a background check, although that doesn’t mean each is specifically recommended by COCOA.

“Grocery shopping is huge,” said Diana Manser, COCOA case manager for Bend. “It’s one of the biggest needs for seniors.”

While several grocery store managers said demand for delivery usually comes from seniors, they aren’t the only people seeking home delivery.

Liz Weiand, owner of Agricultural Connections, said her clients range from busy families to people in their 50s.

“It’s been all across the board,” she said. “It hasn’t been one specific age group.”

And as winter arrives, Weiand expects to get more delivery orders.

“People don’t want to drive,” she said.

Home delivery

Here are a number of businesses — although possibly not all — that offer grocery delivery in Central Oregon. Contact them individually for further details.

• Ray’s Food Place in Redmond.

Contact: 541-548-2447.

• Ray’s Food Place in La Pine.

Contact: 541-536-2041.

• Ray’s Food Place in Bend.

Contact: 541-318-7297.

• Erickson’s Thriftway in Prineville.

Contact: 541-447-6291.

• Precious Cargo Seafood Co.

Contact: seafood@preciouscargoseafood.com, www.preciouscargoseafood.com or 541-420-9369.

• Agricultural Connections.

Contact: info@agricultural connections.com, www.agriculturalconnections.com or 541-228-5330.

• Wanna Life.

Contact: 541-419-631.

• Access Bend Concierge.

Contact: www.accessbendconcierge.com or 541-419-5306.

• Schwan’s.

Contact: www.schwans.com or 888-724-9267.

COCOA’s list

To access the list of service providers screened by the Central Oregon Council on Aging, go to the organization’s website and click the link Resources for Caregivers from a list on the left. It leads to several links with caregivers listed. Or call the number below for more information.

Contact: www.councilonaging.org or 541-678-5483.