Aldi launches alcohol delivery via Instacart

Aldi has added alcohol to its national grocery delivery partnership with Instacart.

The hard discount grocer said Wednesday that customers can now order wine and beer online through its Instacart page at shop.aldi.us, or via the Instacart mobile app, and have it delivered the same day, where permitted by state and local laws.

To see if their local Aldi supermarket qualifies for delivery of alcohol, shoppers visiting shop.aldi.us or using the Instacart app enter the city and store location. Customers ordering alcohol must be age 21 or older and are required to enter their birthdate at checkout and present a valid government ID at the time of delivery.

Wine, in particular, has become an increasingly popular purchase at Aldi stores as the Batavia, Ill.-based retailer continues to win awards for quality and value. Premium private label wines continue to grow in sales industrywide.

This past summer, at the Private Label Manufacturers Association 2019 International Salute to Excellence awards in Amsterdam, Aldi U.S. was honored for best value with its Evanta Malbec 2017 (Argentina, $4) and best quality for its Scarlet Path Zinfandel 2017 (Lodi, $8) and Outlander Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Paso Robles, $9). Aldi highlights its award-winning wines on its website, and its selection includes red, white, rosé, sparkling and specialty wines. The site also gives a “wine of the month” selection of red and white wines recommended by the retailer’s expert buyer. Customers voted Aldi’s Winking Owl Moscato as a “fan favorite” product this year.

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Aldi’s beer assortment includes a range of premium, craft and imported labels. Offerings also include hard cider, hard root beer and hard seltzer. As with wine, the chain’s buyers recommend a “beer of the month” on its website.

“The busy holiday season is fast approaching, making convenience more important than ever, and adding alcohol delivery to our online offerings is one more way Aldi saves you time,” Scott Patton, vice president of corporate buying at Aldi U.S., said in a statement. “Our award-winning wines range from less than $5 for 90-point rated Evanta Malbec to $12 for premium offerings, such as 92-point rated Peaks & Tides Cabernet Sauvignon. You can have a bottle delivered to your doorstep in as fast as an hour.”

Aldi rolled out Instacart online grocery delivery chainwide last fall, with the service becoming available at stores in 5,000 new ZIP codes in 35 states — covering 75 major markets, including San Diego, New York City, Miami, Raleigh, N.C., and Minneapolis — in late November. Currently, nearly all Aldi stores in more than 10,000 ZIP codes offer Instacart delivery. Aldi announced its partnership with Instacart in August 2017, starting with select stores in Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. The grocer also offers store pickup via Instacart.

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In support of their expanded service, Aldi and Instacart are offering free delivery for first-time customers with code “ALDIHOLIDAY19” through Dec. 31. Overall, Aldi operates more than 1,900 U.S. stores in 36 states.

“Instacart is proud to expand its partnership with Aldi and reach across more Aldi aisles so customers can order wine and beer, in addition to groceries and household essentials, for delivery to their door,” said Chris Rogers, vice president of retail at Instacart. “By introducing Aldi alcohol to the Instacart marketplace, we’re making it even easier for customers to get all their favorites from Aldi delivered in as fast as an hour.”

In March, San Francisco-based Instacart announced plans to step up alcohol delivery service through its retail partners. At the time, the company offered same-day delivery of beer, wine and/or spirits through grocery retailers and liquor and beverage stores in 14 states and the District of Columbia, including Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, Schnuck Markets and Stater Bros. as well as specialty stores like BevMo!, Binny’s Beverage Depot and Total Wine & More. Also recently launching or expanding Instacart alcohol delivery were BJ’s Wholesale Club and Sam’s Club.