Kroger Kicks Off Major Instacart Expansion

The Kroger Co. is taking its partnership with Instacart to new heights, expanding the grocery delivery service to 75 additional markets across the U.S. 

The initiative is expected to be completed by late October and will bring the service to Atlanta; Augusta, Ga.; Little Rock, Ark.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Nashville, among other cities. The expansion will grow Kroger's and Instacart's nationwide footprint by 50%, making the delivery service available through more than 1,600 stores. 

Kroger is not the only retailer zeroing in on Instacart's services. For example, Hy-Vee adopted the delivery service in July and Albertsons Cos. recently partnered with the company to launch its web-exclusive O Organics Market in San Francisco and Washington D.C., with plans to expand in the future. 

Matt Thompson, Kroger's digital VP of ClickList, said the move is part of Kroger's Restock plan and will rapidly accelerate the coverage area for "seamless shopping," giving its customers "the choice of stores, delivery, curbside pickup or ship to your door."

"We value our Instacart partnership, and the expansion is just one more way Kroger is offering millions of our customers across America the fresh food and groceries they want, when they want them," he said.

Related:Albertsons Launches Instacart-Powered O Organics Market

Additionally, Kroger customers will earn fuel rewards on every delivery purchase and can redeem digital coupons to save on the groceries they order.

From Atlanta to Anchorage, Alaska, and Albuquerque, N.M., "Instacart is excited to welcome and offer additional Kroger households on-demand access to their favorite products and household staples," said Sarah Mastrorocco, VP of business development for Instacart