You may be too busy to hit the local grocery store. Or, you may just want to sit back, relax, and have someone else bring your groceries to you.

Whatever the motivation, your home grocery delivery options continue to sprout in Dallas, with German grocer ALDI announcing a partnership with Instacart for a delivery pilot program.

The grocer said that the partnership will be tested in Dallas, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, allowing customers to order ALDI products for delivery in as little as an hour.

ALDI CEO Jason Hart said the partnership is a way for the grocer to expand on convenience and value.

“We know customers are looking for new ways to save time and money. Instacart provides easy access to our low prices at the click of a button,” Hart said in a release.

“There’s a clear demand for quality grocery delivery.”
Apoorva Mehta

Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta said the partnership is a way for the companies to meet a demand for delivery services.

“There’s a clear demand for quality grocery delivery,” Mehta said.

Instacart already has delivery arrangements with Kroger, Whole Foods, Central Market, Tom Thumb, Costco, Total Wine & More, Natural Grocers, CVS Pharmacy, Petco, Spec’s, and Sur La Table.

It’s hard to estimate the impact of online grocery shopping and home delivery.

According to recent Gallup Poll, only 4 percent of Americans say they shop online for groceries weekly, and Business Insider said the lack of delivery options may contribute to the low number.

DELIVERING GROCERIES IS PART OF CHANGING RETAIL SECTOR

Big box retail giant Target, meanwhile, is expanding its next-day delivery service, Target Restock, launching in Dallas and Denver.

Target’s service is similar to Amazon’s Prime Pantry, according to TechCrunch, because it’s aimed at customers stocking up on household essentials — excluding fresh and frozen grocery items.

Restock customers can fill a box up to 45 pounds, which then is shipped for a flat fee to their homes.

Tom Thumb has had a home delivery service 

It’s all part of an evolving retail grocery sector.

Wal-Mart said Thursday that it is delivering online groceries from more than 900 stores nationwide in an effort to take on Amazon, which recently bought Whole Foods.

USA Today reported that Wal-Mart said early results are strong on the service.

Wal-Mart U.S. CEO Greg Foran told USA Today that the company will “watch closely” if Amazon increases its online delivery business.

Wal-Mart also is testing a pilot store in DFW —  a larger 2,500-square-foot C-store at its Crowley location. The convenience store is several times larger than the typical Wal-Mart convenience store, and offers beer, hot food, salads and snacks, and a soft serve station. 

Irving-based 7-Eleven is testing self-checkout in Irving and recently launched its 7Rewards smartphone app.

Photo: Michael Samples

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