Instacart launches in Miami
On-demand grocery delivery company Instacart has expanded to Miami – the 16th city to join the national network. The new Miami service is going live today (Tuesday, 19 May). To mark the launch – and in recognition of Miami’s celebrated lifestyle – Instacart has chartered a boat which can supply goods to customers who are themselves out on a boat or have a dock.
Instacart says that it works with “trusted local stores”. There are now more than 60 grocery retailers participating in the system, including both national chains and local, regional grocers. They include: Whole Foods Market, Costco, Winn-Dixie, BJ’S Wholesale Club and Petco stores.
The company claims that it has “disrupted” the traditional grocery delivery market by connecting customers with “Personal Shoppers” – independent contractors who shop for and deliver grocery orders using their own transportation. According to Instacart: “This eliminates the need for costly infrastructure such as inventory, warehouses, trucks and full-time drivers.”
Instacart will launch the service with 60 “personal shoppers” in Miami and will ramp up as needed, an Instacart spokeswoman said.
“We had thousands of requests for service in the Miami area, and strong interest from retail partners such as Whole Foods Market and Winn-Dixie, so the time was right,” said Apoorva Mehta, founder and CEO of Instacart. ”
New customers can open an account at www.Instacart.com, and get free delivery on their first order of $10 or more. Thereafter, options include one-hour delivery for $5.99; two-hour delivery for $3.99 or a scheduled delivery for $3.99. Instacart also offers Instacart Express – a $99 annual membership service that eliminates delivery fees for all orders of $35 or more.
