Mercatus Technologies Inc’s Post

Competing on delivery discounts from Walmart, Instacart, and other eGrocery giants isn't a winning strategy for regional grocers. In our recent webinar on the US eGrocery Market Share Report, David Bishop from Brick Meets Click highlights a smarter move: double down on pickup. While delivery grabs headlines, pickup remains a powerful yet underutilized way for regional grocers to differentiate themselves and reinforce their core values. By refining and promoting pickup—offering the convenience of online shopping without the delivery fees—grocers can attract budget-conscious shoppers looking for flexibility and control with no extra costs. Enhancing pickup options with subscription perks or limited-time deals makes an offer like this even stronger, driving customers in-store where grocers can shine through personalized service and their status in the local community. Download the full Market Share Report to learn more: https://mct.media/4hw2uSU?

Should regional grocers charge fees for Pickup? If there’s one thing to be learned from the latest Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey, it’s that promotions bringing big discounts on service fees can be extremely effective A good chunk of the 8% year-over-year increase in eGrocery sales this month are due to both Walmart and Instacart providing Delivery discounts for customers willing to sign up for membership plans. These initiatives leave the door open for grocers to increase their offerings around Pickup — still the most popular eGrocery receiving method. While Walmart doesn’t typically charge a Pickup fee, many regional grocers do. That can be turned into an advantage. By offering subscription plans that promote waived pickup fees and/or expedited service, grocers can create a unique value proposition that’s not already available from other retailers. This allows grocers to promote the convenience, efficiency, and value of Pickup — which has a significantly lower cost-to-serve than Delivery. It’s a win-win for both consumers and grocers. To learn more, watch the full episode of US eGrocery Sales Trends and read our report on this month’s Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey: https://mct.media/3y6ghO3

DoorDash Expands Grocery Footprint with Five New Retail Partners 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀: • DoorDash has added five new grocery banners to its delivery network ahead of the holiday season. • The new partners include Fresh Encounter, Inc. (operating multiple banners across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky), Stew Leonard's Farm Fresh Food (Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey), Robért Fresh Market (New Orleans area), Plum Market (Michigan and Florida), and Fruitful Yield (Chicago area). • The partnerships mark continued growth for DoorDash, which has onboarded other prominent retailers like Ahold Delhaize USA banners, Wegmans, Save A Lot, and more throughout the year. • Grocery orders from these new partners are eligible for DoorDash’s DashPass program, offering zero delivery fees and other benefits for members. • DoorDash highlights the increasing role of on-demand delivery in consumer shopping habits, aiming to bring local grocers closer to their communities. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀: ✅ DoorDash is solidifying its position as a key player in grocery delivery by expanding partnerships with both national and regional chains. ✅ Independent and regional grocers are leveraging DoorDash to enhance convenience for their customers during peak holiday demand. ✅ The inclusion of grocery retailers in the DashPass program provides added value to consumers, encouraging adoption of online delivery services. ✅ On-demand delivery continues to grow as a critical channel for grocery retailers to reach a wider customer base and compete with larger chains. ✅ This expansion reflects a shift in consumer habits toward convenience-driven solutions, positioning DoorDash and its partners to capture growing demand in the online grocery market. Progressive Grocer | https://lnkd.in/giSqXEcx #retail #supermarkets #grocerydelivery #onlinedelivery #holidayretail #businessgrowth #DoorDash

Is relying on a third-party delivery provider helping or hindering your grocery business? The recent surge in delivery sales across the eGrocery market is being driven by deep discounts being offered by big players like Instacart. But are these numbers sustainable? Grocers should be wary of becoming too dependent on third-party platforms for sales, as discounts like these can lead to a "short-term addiction" that might undermine long-term growth. Instead of ceding control of customer experience and shopping data, grocers should begin shifting focus toward their own first-party platforms and build a path toward long-term profitability. Click the link below to learn why you should prioritize first-party engagement over third-party reliance: https://mct.media/3V0KOFJ

Competing with delivery discounts from eGrocery giants like Walmart and Instacart is an unsustainable strategy for regional grocers. David Bishop from Brick Meets Click offers a smarter path forward. Instead of chasing Walmart, why not look to Target’s success with their pickup operations? By meeting customer needs with a unique pickup experience, Target has built loyalty that doesn’t rely on discounts. As David points out, working parents love Target’s curbside service because it offers convenience, control, and a lower cost. Regional grocers can emulate this by enhancing pickup services with: - Flexible time slots and reduced wait times. - Bundling pickup with loyalty perks. - Personalized service that drives lasting customer relationships. This is a model that regional grocers can use to provide unique value and maintain direct customer connections. Perhaps best of all, pickup is a cost-effective alternative to delivery that showcases the best qualities of grocers.

When is the right time to use DoorDash to drive your retail? That can be a tricky question, I've got a few rules of thumb. If you're using Instacart, you know how effective it can be. It's the Swiss Army Knife of retail media. DoorDash is Instacart's little brother. A little less activity, but usually a higher ROAS. It's a well kept secret for the right brands with the right distro. Here are a few thoughts on when the right time is: -If you're in 5,000 doors, this is a no-brainer. -If you're in multiple DashMart regions, again, no-brainer. -If you're in the intersection of DoorDash's key retail partners. What is that intersection of DoorDash partners? Well, here's a bit of a cheat sheet. -GIANT, Giant, and Giant Eagle -Wakefern, including ShopRite -Dick's Sporting Goods -Albertsons Banners -Grocery Outlet -Tractor Supply -Weis Markets -Food Lion -Wegmans -Best Buy -Sephora -Hy-Vee -Meijer -Ulta -Aldi -IGA Just one or two of those chains won't guarantee you an account. But if you happen to be in multiple, there's a good chance you can. If not, don't worry. 5 small chains were added in November, so partnerships are growing fast. If you think you should have an account, we've got an exclusive pilot partnership with DoorDash. We may be able to get you an ad account. DM me for details. #DoorDash #RetailMedia #RetailVelocity

The gap that opened when the qCom operators funding dried up is being well filled by 'marketplaces'. I am a supporter of marketplaces as it helps grocers remain accessible, relevant and responsive to the needs of a more digital enabled consumer. However, what marketplaces offer is not the answer to the many eCom challenges grocers have to face into, whether that's labor, technology, content & merchandising and revenue generation. Grocers should balance the investment in marketplaces with a simultaneous investment in developing their own digital customer experience and fulfilment capability. Grocers have always prided themselves on knowing their customers better than anyone else, and that should not change when your customers transact on a marketplace. Rouses Markets is a great example of a grocer leading with an 'owned' eCom experience first, and then adding to that marketplace capability.

📰 Ripe Report No. 05: Canseco’s Market Goes Digital with Instacart Partnership Canseco's Market, a New Orleans grocery favorite, is joining forces with Instacart to power its online shopping experience. With Instacart Storefront, Canseco's aims to make its extensive selection of fresh, quality groceries—including custom-cut meats and fresh produce—more accessible to the community, especially those who prefer the convenience of online shopping. This partnership not only signifies Canseco's commitment to reach more customers through digital channels but also highlights Instacart's broader initiative to support regional grocers, making it easier for them to offer e-commerce to their customers. 🛒 Impact on Thrivvy Shoppers: While this is exciting news, it's important for Thrivvy users to know that we currently do not feature pricing information from Instacart's platform. This partnership highlights the growing availability of delivery options for local favorites like Canseco’s, similar to last week's announcement about Rouses and DoorDash. However, shoppers should be mindful that products on Instacart may be marked up by as much as 20% from in-store prices in addition to the delivery fees you will pay. As delivery options expand, it's vital to stay informed about the best deals, whether shopping in-store or online. 💬 We Want to Hear from You: Are you excited about the convenience of having Canseco's Market at your fingertips through Instacart? Do you have a preferred delivery service when shopping for groceries online, whether it be Instacart, Shipt, DoorDash, or another provider? Let us know how these developments impact your shopping decisions and any preferences you have among the various delivery services available. Join the conversation in the comments and help us tailor Thrivvy for your smart, savings-focused shopping adventures. #Thrivvy #RipeReports #grocery #grocerydelivery

We're thrilled to announce an expansion of our partnership with Instacart, launching pickup services and Albertsons Rapid convenience delivery across the nation. This program expansion provides Instacart customers with greater access to groceries and household essentials alongside the quality and fresh assortment they expect from our stores.     With Instacart pickup services, shoppers can easily place an order through the Instacart App and have it ready for pickup at select Albertsons Companies stores, including Safeway, Albertsons, Shaw's Supermarkets, Acme Markets, Jewel-Osco, and VONS. By the end of August, the pickup service will be available in more than 2,000 banner locations. Plus, experience the speed of Albertsons Rapid, delivering your essentials in as fast as 30 minutes. Shoppers can purchase prepared foods, snacks, drinks, grocery staples, household essentials and more. Albertsons Rapid services are $2.99 per order and free for Instacart+ members.      “At Albertsons Companies, we place the customer at the center of everything we do, and we realize that shoppers today are increasingly busy with work, family and friend commitments. By expanding our partnership with Instacart to offer pickup services through the Instacart app, we are offering customers another channel to fulfill their shopping needs.” – Stephen Menaquale, SVP, eCommerce and Fulfillment     To access an Albertsons Companies store for same-day delivery and pickup, customers can select their banner storefront from the Instacart App or by visiting: https://lnkd.in/gnteVHnC.    Learn more about our expanded partnership with Instacart: https://lnkd.in/gePjm7DZ     #AlbertsonsCompanies #Instacart #Partnership #Convenience #Innovation #CustomerFirst