Instacart begins online grocery delivery in Quebec

Instacart has launched same-day grocery delivery from Costco Wholesale, Walmart Canada and Les Aliments M&M stores in French-speaking Quebec, the first time that the e-commerce company has translated its platform into another language.

San Francisco-based Instacart said Tuesday that Costco, Les Aliments M&M and Walmart customers in Montreal can now have the groceries and other products delivered in as soon as an hour from nearly 25 locations. Plans call for Instacart to expand service to Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Gatineau, Quebec, in the coming months as well as add more retailers, including the Pharmaprix drugstore chain (part of Loblaw Cos.’ Shoppers Drug Mart) and beauty chain Sephora.

“With today’s launch, we're taking another step toward deepening our commitment to Canada, creating a new way for Quebecers to connect with local brick-and-mortar retailers and seamlessly get the goods they need delivered,” Chris Rogers, vice president of retail at Instacart, said in a statement. “We’re proud to introduce Instacart’s first-ever French-language experience in Quebec and look forward to finding more ways for customers to engage with the local retailers they know, love and trust.”

Instacart’s debut at Quebec retailers brings its first-ever French-language shopping experience.

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The Quebec market entry, reaching over 1 million households, makes Instacart’s service available in all 10 Canadian provinces. Rogers reported that, over the past year, Instacart has delivered groceries and other essential items from more than 1,800 stores and 35 retailers across Canada.

“M&M Food Market has offered online shopping for many years, and our partnership with Instacart is a natural extension of our business,” commented Derek Bowles, director of store operations at Les Aliments M&M. “Demand for same-day delivery is not only convenient, it’s a big time saver. And we're looking forward to giving Quebec residents even more access to our food by bringing it to their doorsteps.”

Quebecers can access Instacart shopping via instacart.ca or the Instacart mobile app and then entering their address and selecting a retailer. To use Instacart’s French-language experience, customers must have the preferred language on their web browser or smartphone set to French Canada.

“Expanding our collaboration with Instacart to the Quebec market is an important milestone in our commitment to making Canadians’ lives easier, more convenient and better,” according to Cyrille Ballereau, regional vice president at Walmart Canada. “We’re looking forward to providing our Quebec customers with additional express delivery options of our in-store selection of groceries and goods.”

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Besides the Instacart marketplace website and app and website, Quebecers will be able to access Instacart delivery via Costco and Les Aliments M&M’s web and mobile platforms in the coming days, Instacart said, adding that both are powered by Instacart Enterprise services.

“We’re thrilled to expand same-day delivery of Costco products to Quebec,” stated Pierre Riel, senior vice president and country manager at Costco Canada. “By expanding our relationship with Instacart, our members will have even more ways to get the most out of their membership.”

Pharmaprix, the Quebec banner of Shoppers Drug Mart, is readying to offer Instacart delivery service.

In Quebec, delivery from Costco is available Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT. Les Aliments M&M delivery is offered Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walmart Canada is providing Instacart delivery in the province Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"For decades, Pharmaprix has been a leading destination for Quebec customers for health and beauty products, food staples and general convenient shopping to help them make life a little bit easier," Matt Carr, vice president of merchandising at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix, said in a statement. “Partnering with Instacart on their Quebec launch will soon allow stores to better serve customers wherever they need us, whether that’s in person or delivered right to their door.”

Overall, Instacart's service has more than 600 national, regional and local retail partners and reaches over 85% of U.S. households and 80% of Canadian households from nearly 55,000 stores in 5,500 cities in North America.

“We’re excited to be expanding our partnership with Instacart to provide our clients in the Quebec market with an innovative and seamless shopping experience and same-day delivery service,” commented Deborah Neff, senior vice president of marketing at Sephora Canada. “Now more than ever, we're committed to meeting the evolving needs of our clients and to offering them the flexibility, ease and convenience to shop how they want. We’re thrilled that our clients in Quebec will soon be able to make the most of Instacart’s unique services to shop with us.”