Today in Food Commerce: Jokr Looks to Sell NYC Business; Instacart Partners With WPP

Today in food commerce, ultrafast grocer Jokr looks for a buyer for its New York City business, and Instacart teams up with London-based multinational advertising and communications company WPP. Plus, Starbucks sees its recovery slowed by pandemic-related challenges.

Jokr’s Intention to Sell NYC Biz Reveal US Consumers May Not Be Ready for Ultrafast Grocery

Jokr, an ultrafast grocery delivery startup operating in three continents, is looking to sell its New York business. One report cited three unnamed inside sources, stating that the company has been speaking to competitors, including Gopuff, Getir and FastAF in the hopes of finding a potential buyer.

Instacart Partners With WPP to Supplement Delivery Revenue With Ad Sales

With the unforgiving margins of grocery delivery making it tough to run a profitable business, Instacart is going all in on advertising. The grocery aggregator announced it is partnering with London-based multinational advertising and communications company WPP to offer advertising solutions and analytics tools to consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brands on Instacart’s marketplace.

Starbucks’ Rocky Results Portend Dark Period for QSR Industry

Starbucks’ sales continue to rise, and its digital platforms continue to grow, but none of these initiatives are enough to escape the challenges created or worsened by the pandemic — high inflation, supply chain shortages and staffing challenges.