Instacart Debuts Grocery Pickup Nationwide

Instacart, the online groceries company, announced Wednesday (Nov. 7) the national expansion of Instacart Pickup, a new grocery click-and-collect service.

In a press release, the company said Instacart Pickup provides customers with expanded delivery and/or pickup options, enabling them to order via Instacart and pick up the groceries at retailers. Instacart said it will be working with existing and new retail partners to add the service to participating partner stores around the country during the remainder of this year and throughout next year.

The nationwide rollout of Instacart Pickup comes on the heels of a product pilot test the company ran for multiple months in which customers offered their feedback for the new services. Based on the responses, which the company said were positive, it expanded its partnerships with ALDI, Cub Foods, Food Lion, Price Chopper, Publix, Schnucks, Smart & Final, Sprouts, Tops Friendly Markets, Wegmans and others to provide the Instacart Pickup service in close to 200 stores across 25 markets near Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Nashville, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

“We want to make grocery shopping effortless by helping our customers get the groceries they need from the retailers they love. Our customers want choice, and we’re excited to now offer the pickup option they’ve been asking for,” said Nilam Ganenthiran, chief business officer at Instacart, in a press release announcing the nationwide rollout of the service. “In our house, sometimes the ritual of going to the grocery store is inspiring and helps us meal plan for the week. Other times, we’re busy and can’t get to the store, so delivery makes life easier for us. For families that are out and about and running errands, a pickup solution might be a better fit for their family rhythm. I’m excited to work with our existing retail partners to now offer Instacart Pickup and look forward to adding more beloved grocers over the coming months and expanding this service to even more families.”

Customers in participating cities and retail locations will now be able to shop for fresh produce, meat, seafood and other kitchen essentials, place their orders and pick up their groceries at their retailer of choice. Customers can schedule their pickup and receive in-app notifications when the groceries are ready. They then send an in-app notification to the Instacart personal shopper letting them know they are on their way to the store. The Instacart shopper will then bring the groceries to the customer’s vehicle.

“We’re proud to offer our customers more ways to get the groceries they need when they want them,” said Ed Rick, director of consumer marketing and digital at Tops Friendly Markets in the same press release. “Instacart Pickup is the perfect option for busy Tops customers who are on the go and want the flexibility and convenience to shop when and how they want while still getting access to the Tops groceries they love.”