Instacart's New Partnership Designed To Boost E-Commerce For Independent Grocery Stores

Instacart Vice President of Retail Chris Rogers says this partnership will make it easier for consumers to buy goods from independently owned grocery stores. Operators might see this partnership as competition, especially as consumers seek to support local businesses.

Instacart and C&S Wholesale Grocers Partner to Offer Ecommerce Solutions to Network of Independent Grocers

SAN FRANCISCO, June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Instacart, the North American leader in online grocery, and C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S., today announced the two companies have partnered to offer ecommerce and same-day delivery solutions to more than 3,000 C&S independent grocery retailers across the U.S. The new partnership shows both companies' continued commitment to supporting independent grocers across the country and the diverse communities these retailers serve.

"Connecting local grocers to their customers online is incredibly important to Instacart, and today the need for this is more important than ever," said Chris Rogers, Vice President of Retail at Instacart. "It's critical that families have access to groceries and goods from the retailers they love and trust. By partnering with C&S, we're able to bring more independently-owned grocers online and ensure the communities they serve can more easily access the household essentials they need."

"C&S is proud to provide our retail partners with the ability to move their businesses online," stated Corey Quiring, Vice President of Retail Services at C&S Wholesale Grocers. "Now more than ever before, shoppers need the safety and convenience of online shopping and home delivery. Instacart's services are unparalleled in providing a seamless shopping experience."

As part of the partnership, C&S will help bring their network of independent grocers onto the Instacart marketplace. The companies will work closely to help retailers establish an ecommerce and delivery offering to meet the needs of their customers. Once the grocer is live on the Instacart marketplace, customers can visit the Instacart website or download the mobile app, enter their city, select their store, and begin adding items to their Instacart grocery cart. An Instacart personal shopper will pick and deliver the order within the customer's designated time frame — same-day, or for convenient scheduling, up to two weeks in advance. All Instacart orders default to "Leave at My Door Delivery" to ensure customers receive their deliveries safely and can maintain social distancing guidelines.

Instacart and C&S both play integral roles in supporting independent grocery stores across the country. A recent study conducted by Dr. Robert Kulick of NERA Economic Consulting showed that Instacart allows grocers to maintain existing customer relationships and attract new ones — all while protecting and creating jobs at brick and mortar stores. By helping grocery retailers grow, Instacart is strengthening the grocery industry and local U.S. economies. Similarly, C&S is continually evolving to offer new and cost-efficient products, services and solutions where retailers need it most.

C&S supplies more than 7,700 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 137,000 different products. Instacart today partners with more than 350 beloved national, regional and local retailers to offer delivery from over 25,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in the U.S. and Canada.

About Instacart

Instacart is the North American leader in online groceries and one of the fastest-growing companies in ecommerce. Instacart shoppers offer same-day delivery and pickup services to bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada. Instacart has partnered with more than 350 beloved national, regional and local retailers, including Albertsons, ALDI, Costco, Kroger, Loblaw, Publix, Sam's Club, Sprouts, Walmart Canada, and Wegmans, among others, to deliver from over 25,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart's delivery service is available to more than 85% of U.S. households and 70% of Canadian households. The company's cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the ecommerce platforms of some of the world's biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership for unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more information or to start shopping, visit www.instacart.com. For anyone interested in becoming an Instacart shopper, visit https://shoppers.instacart.com/.

About C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc.

C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. is the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S. and the industry leader in supply chain innovation. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,700 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 137,000 different products. We are an engaged corporate citizen, supporting causes that positively impact our communities. To learn more, please visit www.cswg.com.