Whole Foods to offer delivery, pick-up with Instacart

Whole Foods Market and Instacart on Monday announced a partnership offering customers one-hour deliveries from Whole Foods Market as well as a forthcoming option to place orders through Instacart for pick-up in Whole Foods stores.

The two companies said they would pilot the in-store pick-up option at select Austin, Texas, and Boston stores in the next month. Instacart delivers from Whole Foods Market in all of the 15 cities it currently serves: Atlanta; Austin; Boston; Boulder, Colo.; Chicago; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; New York City; Philadelphia; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle; and Washington, DC.

Instacart and Whole Foods Market said they expect to expand the in-store pick-up option to all of the cities Instacart serves in coming months.

“Instacart makes it extremely easy for our customers to buy Whole Foods Market products from fifteen cities and have them quickly delivered — whether buying fresh ingredients for dinner tonight or sending healthy foods to loved ones in another city,” Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to add this additional convenience for our customers.”

“Instacart and Whole Foods Market are two companies that share a common vision to create great grocery shopping experiences,” added Apoorva Mehta, CEO and founder of Instacart. “Whole Foods Market is our most requested shopping destination, and we’re happy to be working together to create a seamless, quick option for customers with busy lifestyles.”

Customers at Instacart.com or via the Instacart mobile app, select their ZIP code, add items to a virtual cart, and then choose a delivery window (within one hour, within two hours, or at a scheduled time) and check out. “Personal shoppers” who work on commission and tips then shop for the items and deliver orders. An option to allow for store pick-up will be added when available, the company said.

CONNECT WITH SN ON TWITTER

Follow @SN_News for updates throughout the day.

All Instacart customers receive free delivery on their first order; thereafter, the cost is $3.99 for two-hour delivery or $5.99 for one-hour delivery. Customers can also purchase a $99 annual Instacart Express membership and receive free delivery on any order over $35.

Instacart said it also offers Whole Foods’ recipe database and tools to allow to auto-generate shopping lists for those items.

To celebrate the partnership, Instacart and Whole Foods Market are offering shoppers the chance to win free groceries for one year. Customers will receive hidden game pieces in Instacart delivery bags beginning Sept. 12, with five chances to win. For complete details visit http://wfm.com/instacartgiveaway.

Suggested Categories	More from Supermarketnews
Latest News Top 75 Retailers & Wholesalers Top 50 Small Chains & Independents Top 25 Global Retailers Power 50	SN Photo Galleries Videos Industry Voices SN Viewpoints Total Access Event Coverage