📦 Empire's New Partnerships
Empire Company Limited, known for grocery brands like Sobeys and FreshCo, has joined forces with Instacart and Uber Eats. This collaboration adds over 250 Empire stores to both apps, initially in Ontario. The goal is to expand these services across Canada, enhancing Empire’s presence in the online grocery market. This move complements Empire’s own home delivery service, Voilà, which has been growing steadily. “We are excited to be expanding our ecommerce offering and continuing to grow the market,” said Doug Nathanson, Empire’s Chief Development Officer.
🚚 Instacart’s Strategy in Canada
Instacart has been broadening its reach in Canada. It already partners with Canada’s top five grocers, delivering from over 6,000 locations. With the addition of Empire's stores, Instacart further solidifies its market position. The recent partnership with Uber Eats in May, which brought thousands of UberEats restaurant listings to the Instacart app, showcased its aggressive expansion strategy. Now, adding Empire brands, including Sobeys and Farm Boy, strengthens its grocery delivery portfolio.
🏬 Empire's Reach Across Canada
Empire’s presence in the Canadian market is already robust, delivering to about 90% of households through its various services. The new partnerships are expected to boost its reach even further. In Ontario alone, the initial phase will include 250 Empire stores, with plans to expand delivery options across all provinces. This will significantly enhance the convenience of shopping for Canadian consumers, allowing them access to Empire’s products through both Instacart and Uber Eats.
💬 Strategic Insights from Empire
Empire’s collaboration with Instacart and Uber Eats highlights a strategic shift towards embracing third-party platforms. By leveraging these partnerships, Empire aims to grow its market share in the competitive online grocery space. This move comes as retailers increasingly recognize the importance of multi-channel ecommerce strategies. Doug Nathanson emphasized the potential for growth, stating, "Our partnership with Instacart and Uber Eats is a critical step in reaching more Canadians where they shop online." This approach could give Empire an edge as consumer demand for convenient shopping experiences continues to rise.
Will Empire’s new partnerships boost their online sales?
