Albertsons Cos. Partners With Instacart

Albertsons Cos. and Instacart have announced an agreement to offer online shopping and same-day delivery to 1,800 of the retailer’s stores. With this deal, Instacart is now partnered with all but one of the top six grocery brands in North America, including Kroger, Ahold Delhaize, Publix and Loblaw.

“Instacart’s extensive delivery network combined with Albertsons Companies existing home delivery services and established, robust e-commerce offering creates a fantastic customer proposition,” said Shane Sampson, chief marketing and merchandising officer at Albertsons Cos., based in Boise, Idaho.

When the platform is fully developed, Instacart customers will be able to choose from Albertsons Cos. banner stores across key market areas for a convenient option to order and receive groceries. Under the agreement, Instacart’s delivery service is expected to be available in more than 1,800 of Albertsons’ store banners nationwide by mid-2018.

The move marks Albertsons’ continued push to up its e-commerce offerings. This year, the company began rolling out proprietary same-day delivery and Drive-up & Go options, and also acquired the online meal kit company Plated.

“Families across the nation trust and rely on Albertsons Companies’ stores for their fresh groceries and everyday essentials,” Apoorva Mehta, founder and CEO of San Francisco-based Instacart, said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with the company’s legendary brands from coast-to-coast to offer customers a new convenient, time-saving option for shopping at their neighborhood store.”

Related:Instacart Rapidly Expands Retailer Partnerships

Founded in 2012, Instacart has quickly scaled to more than 150 markets and partnered with retailers across North America, including popular national chains as well as local and regional grocers.

Albertsons Cos.' current home delivery network and digital programs will continue to serve its growing customer base in existing markets, officials said.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs, as well as meal kit company Plated, based in New York.