According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for groceries and other food prepared at home grew by 2.6% over the past year—a 3.5% increase from 2019. To help consumers access affordable groceries and money-saving deals, Instacart announced the rollout of new features across its Instacart App just in time for the holiday season.

• New Reduced Cost and Free Delivery: Instacart will test this new delivery option in select markets. It promises to reduce or waive the delivery fee on orders placed more than 24 hours before the desired delivery date and time. This new option provides an excellent way for families that plan ahead to save up on costs.
• Saving more with the Deals Tab: Instacart currently runs hundreds of thousands of deals and promos across its marketplace every day. The Deals Tab features daily coupons and promos directly from retailers and CPG companies. Users can use it to browse sales in their area and save up on grocery staples, bulk items, and more. All of this will allow CPG brands to gain more visibility on the app and introduce new products to consumers by offering limited-time-only deals. 
• 5% Credit Back on Express Pickup Orders: Instacart also brings additional savings to their Express members who use the company’s contactless curbside pickup service. All Pickup customers already save on service fees and don’t pay delivery fees, but in the next few months, Express members will get even more savings with a 5% credit back on their eligible Pickup orders usable on future orders placed via Instacart.

According to Asha Sharma, Chief Operating Officer of Instacart, “...we’re proud to roll out these new features that help customers get exactly what they need, while also saving along the way. Online grocery shouldn’t be a luxury, and we’re committed to making Instacart the most affordable way for families across North America to get the food they need from the retailers they love.”

Bottom line: Instacart’s new features are a win-win for both consumers and CPG brands. Consumers save up on groceries while CPG companies potentially gain more visibility and brand and product awareness to reportedly more than 9.6 million Instacart users.