Instacart adds Big Lots to retail partner base

Continuing efforts to grow beyond online grocery service, Instacart has launched same-day delivery with deep-discount retail chain Big Lots.

San Francisco-based Instacart said Monday that delivery is now available at Big Lots’ nearly 1,400 discount stores in 47 states. Products available through the service include groceries, household essentials, beauty, personal care and pet supplies as well as home goods and décor, kitchen and dining, office supplies, arts and crafts, toys and other items.

“At Big Lots, it’s our mission to make big savings on home essentials accessible to our customers in the communities we serve. Our partnership with Instacart will bring our assortment of home goods, groceries and everyday essentials to customers online in a new way,” Erica Fortune, vice president of e-commerce at Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots, said in a statement. “This announcement is another example of our commitment to offering exceptional value, surprising products and an easy shopping experience to families across the U.S.”

Big Lots customers can make purchases via Instacart at instacart.com/big-lots or by using the Instacart mobile app. After selecting their city and Big Lots store, they then can begin adding items to their virtual cart. An Instacart personal shopper picks, packs and delivers their order within the designated time frame, which can be the same day or scheduled up to two weeks in advance. To promote social distancing, all orders default to the “Leave at My Door” option, providing a contactless delivery experience, Instacart said.

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“We recognize people throughout the U.S. are depending on delivery now more than ever to get the household essentials and goods they need. We’re proud to partner with Big Lots to deliver groceries alongside affordable items for every occasion, providing Big Lots customers with a quick and easy way to connect online with a retailer they love,” commented Chris Rogers, vice president of retail at Instacart. “This partnership enables customers to access the products and savings from Big Lots they’ve come to know, love and rely on, all delivered directly to their home.” 

Though food ($757.4 million) and non-edible consumables ($803.6 million) accounted for about 29% of Big Lots’ fiscal 2019 net sales of $5.32 billion, the discount chain is known primarily for its home and seasonal products and closeout retail merchandising. For Instacart, the partnership broadens its retail delivery base into more product categories and retail channels.

Related:Rite Aid goes all in with Instacart delivery

In 2019, Instacart began piloting same-day delivery with office supply chain Staples in Canada. And this past April, Instacart and Costco Wholesale followed up a pilot of prescription drug delivery with an expansion of the service to about 200 warehouse clubs. Instacart delivery has since been rolled out across Costco’s pharmacy locations. In May, drug chain Rite Aid launched Instacart same-day delivery of groceries and over-the-counter health care products at all of its 2,400-plus stores.

Overall, Instacart today partners with more than 350 national, regional and local retailers to provide delivery from over 25,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in the United Statdes and Canada. The company said Instacart delivery is now available to more than 85% of households in the U.S. and over 70% of households in Canada.