Hy-Vee, Meijer Tackle Soaring Demand for Adult Drinks Delivery

To meet grocery’s growing demand for adult beverage delivery, DoorDash has announced partnerships with Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer and Hy-Vee of West Des Moines, Iowa, to expand digital alcohol ordering and delivery in select markets.

Beginning today, consumers across four states—Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio—can order alcohol from the stand-alone Meijer Beer Wine & Spirits store on the DoorDash app and website. All Meijer alcohol stores are available on DoubleDash, a DoorDash feature launched in August that lets customers add their favorite items from nearby stores to an original order from select stores and, in some cases, restaurants for no additional delivery fee or order minimum. Both orders arrive together and with the same Dasher delivery person.

Also today, consumers across three states—Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska—can order alcohol directly within Hy-Vee grocery marketplace stores on the DoorDash app and website. 

Through this launch, customers can now add alcohol directly from Hy-Vee to their existing grocery order, allowing for consumers to build a mixed basket, the company said. 

Prior to checkout at both stores, customers will be required to upload their ID for legal age verification, in addition to meeting the Dasher face-to-face as part of DoorDash’s delivery requirements.

The grocers’ adult beverage delivery expansion comes as a newly released DoorDash Grocery Online Ordering Trends Report finds that all alcohol types, including hard cider, alcohol, wine and beer, saw more than 100% growth when comparing orders from January to June 2020 to orders from January to June 2021 on DoorDash.

Availability likely played a role, as DoorDash added alcohol delivery to its marketplace in September 2021. At the time, the San Francisco-based DoorDash said its alcohol catalog contained 30,000 SKUs available for purchase from grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants and local retailers. It also said that alcohol purchases on DoorDash may increase merchant subtotals by up to 30%.

“We’re excited to grow our relationships with our grocery partners to expand alcohol selection to customers nationwide,” said Caitlin Macnamara, director, alcohol strategy and operations, for DoorDash, in a statement. “Whether you’re stocking up for a holiday gathering or running low on game-day beverages, consumers can now get their preferred wine, spirits, beer and more delivered directly to their door.”

In addition to the grocery alcohol expansion news, DoorDash also announced its partnership with Sheetz, the Mid-Atlantic convenience chain, to provide on-demand delivery of convenience essentials and more from 560 Sheetz locations across Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.