Stop & Shop kicks off Express delivery

In partnership with Instacart, Stop & Shop has launched Stop & Shop Express, an online shopping service providing delivery of groceries, convenience products and household essentials in as soon as 30 minutes.

The Quincy, Mass.-based grocer, part of Ahold Delhaize USA, said Tuesday that Stop & Shop Express is now available through its more than 400 supermarkets in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.

For the service, Stop & Shop joined Instacart’s Convenience Hub, a new product experience on the Instacart Marketplace designed to streamline convenience shopping. The companies noted that Express Delivery is aimed at supplementing customers’ weekly grocery shop by offering as fast as 30-minute turnaround when they just need a few items quickly. More than 30,000 products — such as prepared foods, snacks, beverages, paper goods, cleaners and baby care, among other items — are available through Stop & Shop Express.

Stop & Shop said it’s the first grocery retailer in the Northeast to provide Instacart’s new convenience service.

“With Stop & Shop Express, not only will we continue to be there for our customers with our great selection of grocery items, but we can be there for them in as fast as 30 minutes,” Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement. “Our customers’ lives are busier than ever, and this service will help make things easier for them.”

Available daily as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 12 a.m., Stop & Shop Express carries a $10 order minimum and a $2.99 delivery fee. Those signing up for Instacart Express can get free Priority Delivery in as fast as 30 minutes. In support of Stop & Shop Express, the grocer’s customers are being offered $20 off a $30 order via the savings code “Save20on30VC” starting Oct. 19.

Stop & Shop has partnered with Instacart for same-day online grocery delivery since 2017. Most recently, in July 2020, the chain expanded Instacart service to 321 locations, making same-day, contactless delivery available through over 75% of its stores. STop & Shop also has worked with Instacart to enable allow customers using SNAP benefits to pay with an EBT card when placing online orders for delivery or pickup.

“We’re proud to expand our long-standing partnership with Stop & Shop to provide customers with an unmatched convenience delivery offering,” stated Chris Rogers, vice president of retail at Instacart. “From a last-minute baking or dinner ingredient to toothpaste and paper goods, we’re thrilled to give customers an easier and faster way to access their convenience shopping needs. As part of our deepened partnership, we’re excited to introduce Stop & Shop Express and continue to provide an online grocery experience that is effortless, accessible and affordable for customers.”

Stop & Shop joins fellow Ahold Delhaize USA chain The Giant Company in offering Instacart’s 30-minute delivery convenience service. Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant, which operates nearly 190 stores in the Mid-Atlantic under the Giant, Martin’s and Giant Heirloom Market banners, launched the service — called Giant Instant Delivery (and Martin’s Instant Delivery) — in late September.

San Francisco-based Instacart unveiled the Convenience Hub in mid-September in tandem with The Kroger Co., which introduced a 30-minute delivery service dubbed Kroger Delivery Now. Instacart also rolled out 24/7 delivery at selected retail partners with stores open 24 hours or extended hours.