Which is Best For Online Grocery Shopping?
Many online grocers provide high-quality items at prices that might out-perform the typical grocery store. To determine which is the best option, I tested some of the most popular services to find those that offer the best brands, a variety of products and fair prices with a convenient delivery or pick-up option.
A key to online shopping is making a list of your needs and claiming a delivery time slot before spots fill up. You’ll also have to be flexible with your choices based on the availability of items.
1. Instacart
The online grocery delivery service allows you to place an order via an app on your mobile or a website creating a virtual shopping cart that is then fulfilled by a personal shopper on a particular day. Instacart has a relationship with more than 1400 national, local and regional banners across North America to deliver products from over 80,000 locations. You can even find stores with membership only, such as Costco and Sam’s Club, on the platform.
Instacart charges the $2.99 fee for same-day delivery and an additional $3.99 cost for service (plus an additional tip to the customer). The fees are similar to those you’d pay at the local grocery store. However, you won’t need to drive to park, stand in line. Instacart offers a year-long membership for customers who shop at minimum 14 times a year. This will save you money on service and delivery fees.
Hindert suggests that you price shop before adding items to your shopping cart if you are concerned about the expense of food items. Instacart allows you to add nutrition information and prices specific to your shopping list so that you can evaluate the costs and ingredients of the items you have in your cart. You can also create an “shoppable list” by using your Instacart application. This is useful for future grocery shopping trips.
Hindert argues that Instacart isn’t the best option for grocery shopping because it can result in impulse purchases. Moreover grocery delivery services do not always offer the same in-store sales that you can find at your local supermarket.
2. Amazon Grocery
Amazon Grocery allows customers to have their groceries delivered right to their door. The products are delivered from local Amazon warehouses by couriers, or at a designated location. The service provides same-day or next-day delivery. Amazon has a wide range of groceries available, including fresh dairy, produce seafood, meat, packaged goods, frozen foods, and household products.
Amazon Grocery has become one of the most well-known services for grocery shopping, and with good reason. Its competitive pricing, large range of items and practical features make it an excellent choice for those looking to save money and time on their grocery shopping. The service is also a great choice for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
Its focus on the weekly food shopping trip, the affordable cost and curated choices place it directly in competition with traditional supermarkets, Brick Meets Click’s Bishop said. “Grocers who aren’t a standout in any of these categories are more vulnerable to Amazon Grocery,” Bishop added.
As an incentive to drive more frequent and more substantial grocery purchases within its Prime members, Amazon has introduced a variety of new perks, including unlimited grocery delivery. This will help position the company as an all-in-one shop for many people’s daily requirements.
Another way Amazon is attempting to attract customers to its stores for groceries is through merchandising innovation. Local brands that have proven successful in smaller 365 stores such as Rockenwagner Bakery or Groundworks Coffee are among the many local brands that Amazon is promoting. This provides customers with an authentic experience at the grocery store and helps build loyalty.
3. Walmart
Shopping online is becoming more popular due to busy work schedules, family obligations and general dislike of crowds. Click and ship makes everything easier, from clothing to office supplies. Now, grocery shopping has joined the fun.
Online grocery stores are growing in popularity. Some provide convenience, while others offer high-quality products at affordable prices. Which one is best for you? We’ve rounded-up the top grocery delivery services to help you pick the best one for you.
Instacart is a top online grocery store, connects you to personal shoppers who will shop for you in local stores. It is available in a multitude of cities and is a great option for shoppers who like to shop at supermarket chains but also wish to take advantage of discounts at wholesalers like Costco and Aldi. Instacart offers same-day delivery in numerous markets, and its selection includes stores like Food Lion, Kroger, Wegmans and Shop n Save. It offers bulk items as well, which is perfect for those who frequently visit the store to stock on essential items.
Walmart is a big name in the world of e-commerce for grocery items. Its online ordering system lets customers to select a pickup or delivery time and then select your items from a virtual cart. The site offers rollback offers and offers a wide range of items, from food to pantry products and personal items for personal care. Walmart+ is a service that provides groceries from local stores.
Thrive Market, an online grocery store, specializes in organic foods and non-GMO products. The membership fee is $5 per month, billed annually, and it has an array of foods to pick from, such as fish, meat and dairy. Thrive provides free shipping on orders that exceed $35 and its selection includes items that are healthy for you and the environment.
4. Smith’s
Online grocery shopping can be a godsend for many families who are busy. Not only can these services let you cut one task off your weekly to-do list and aid in plan your meals and budget. Not all online grocery stores provide the same features. Whether you’re looking for convenience, a wide range of products, or the most affordable price, it’s essential to select the best service for your family.
Other online grocery stores also offer convenient delivery and pickup options. Instacart is one of the grocery stores online that allows personal shoppers to shop at local stores and then deliver your order to your home or workplace. Others, like Walmart Grocery, allow you to shop online, and then take your order to a designated location.
Thrive Market is another popular online grocery store that provides a wide range of natural and organic products. These include pantry staples, cleaning supplies and much more. In contrast to other online grocery stores, the Thrive Market does not have an order minimum or flat fee for deliveries. Additionally, it offers a free membership option which lets you test the service for two weeks before deciding decide to pay for it.
For shoppers who rely on government benefits, Vimeo Smith’s offers an online grocery service that accepts EBT and SNAP cards to pick up your groceries at more than 70 stores. To use this service, simply choose the store location from your Smith’s app, shop and place your order, then choose a pickup time and parking spot. When you arrive, pull into your parking spot and dial an number to inform an associate you’re there. The associate will bring your order out to you in the parking lot.
5. Peapod
Peapod is the first to offer online grocery shopping. It is available in 24 US markets. Customers can place orders and receive deliveries of pantry items, Portable Tool Organizer groceries, fresh produce, deli items such as meats, dairy, natural and organic foods, prepared meals, school and office products, nordic ware silver baking pan personal care items and alcohol in specific markets. Customers also can pick up orders at more than 200 Peapod pickup locations, many of which are attached to Ahold USA-owned brick and mortar stores like Stop & Shop.
Peapod uses the data it collects to identify the brands and products that customers prefer, allowing them to recommend similar products. The system lets shoppers browse everything in their shopping cart at once and make use of filters to narrow the results. And since grocery shopping is a largely routine activity, the Skokie-based company uses information to predict which items the customer will purchase and push them to the top of the list.
The service is based around its drivers, also known as brand ambassadors. “Food is emotionally charged,” Bienkowski told Food Dive, and being able to interact with the person delivering customers their food makes the experience more enjoyable and convenient. When customers see their groceries delivered by the driver they know that the order is safe with the driver.
As the first innovator in online grocery shopping, Peapod has invested in technology to keep up with its rivals. But it hasn’t been able to make as significant a dent in the industry as other delivery services for groceries, like Instacart and Amazon Fresh. However, the 28-year veteran of the online grocery delivery battles is trying to increase its competitiveness by expanding its e-commerce offerings. It launched a new mobile experience based on the PRISM platform which is exclusive to Ahold Delhaize USA, and its own websites.
