People living in Greater Boston can now use technology to eliminate another item on their to-do list: buying groceries at Wegmans.
The popular supermarket chain is partnering with Instacart, allowing customers to order their favorite food items online or via a mobile app and have them delivered to their home in as little as one hour. Those living within a 30-minute drive outside of Wegmans Chestnut Hill, Westwood or Burlington locations can have groceries delivered to their homes by one of Instacart’s personal shoppers. The chain plans to expand service to its Northborough location soon.
The Wegmans-Instacart partnership in Massachusetts is the latest development in the expanding field of technology-driven food delivery. UberEATS began offering Bostonians McDonald’s delivery on June 26 and Instacart already provides delivery service for Mass. locations of Star Market, Market Basket, Whole Foods, Costco, CVS, Harvest Co-op, PetcoNow and Stop & Shop. This is on the heels of Amazon’s headline-grabbing mid-June purchase of Whole Foods, which is forecasted to revolutionize the grocery store industry.
Wegmans customers eager to save a trip to the store can place an order as early as seven days in advance and can expect food to be delivered within one hour of their designated time. Shoppers can also order day-of and expect their food within one to two hours after they send their order.
The first delivery is free and thereafter is $5.99 for orders over $35. Those planning to use Instacart frequently can pay an annual fee to receive unlimited free one-hour deliveries. Wegmans will also charge a small price increase on the entire order and fees can go up during busy times.
Virtual shoppers will have access to almost all Wegmans’ vast array of products, including produce, meat, seafood, bakery items and cheeses. Customers cannot order certain items, such as products that require an ID like alcohol and certain over the counter drugs, as well as catering.
“By partnering with an industry leader like Instacart, we’re able to provide our customers with a seamless shopping experience with the quality and service they’ve come to expect from Wegmans, without leaving their house,” said Wegmans vice president for e-commerce Heather Pawlowski in a statement.
Instacart also benefits, now getting access to the Wegman’s franchise, known for its immense product offerings, well-trained employees and loyal customer base. In an example of extreme customer enthusiasm, a high school in Northborough put on a play “Wegmans…The Musical” in 2012 out of love for the store.
“Partnering with the best retailers nationwide is essential to the success of Instacart,” said Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta in a statement. “Wegmans is a brand with a loyal fan base. This partnership is a milestone for Instacart.”
