Which is Best For Online Grocery Shopping?

Many online grocery stores now offer high-quality products at prices that are more affordable than your usual grocery stop. To determine which one is best, I tested several popular services to find ones that combine variety, quality brands and reasonable prices, along with convenient pick-up or delivery options.

Shopping online is about planning your list, and making sure you've booked your delivery time before it is filled up. You'll also have to be flexible with your choices based on the availability of the items.

1. Instacart

The online grocery delivery service allows you to place orders on an app or website, creating a virtual shopping cart that's fulfilled by a personal shopper on a designated day. Instacart has a relationship with more than 1400 national, local, and regional retail banners across North America to deliver products from over 80,000 locations. You can even find stores with membership only like Costco and Sam's Club, on the platform.

Instacart charges the $2.99 fee for same-day delivery and an additional $3.99 fee for service (plus an additional tip to the customer). These fees are similar to the ones you pay with shopping at your local grocery store however, you don't have to worry about parking, driving and waiting in queue to pay. In addition that if you shop on Instacart at least 14 times a year you can sign up for an annual Instacartmembership to save money on delivery and service fees.

If you're worried about grocery costs, consider price-shopping prior to adding items to your cart. Instacart allows you to include nutrition information and prices specific to your shopping list so that you can compare the prices and ingredients of the items you have in your cart. You can also create a "shoppable list" using your Instacart application. This is beneficial for future grocery shopping trips.

However, Hindert explains that using Instacart to purchase groceries may not be as effective than shopping on your own because it can lead to purchase impulses. In addition grocery delivery services do not always offer the same in-store sales that you can discover at your local grocery store.

2. Amazon Grocery

With Amazon Grocery, individuals can have their groceries delivered right to their doorstep. The items are sourced from local Amazon warehouses and can be picked up by an individual courier or dropped off at a location that is supervised (where you must be present to pick up your order). The service offers same-day or next-day delivery. Amazon has a wide range of grocery items that include fresh dairy, produce, meat and Modern rug design seafood, frozen foods, packaged goods and household items.

Amazon Grocery is one of the most popular grocery shopping services available, and with good reason. It has a competitive pricing structure, a wide variety of products, and a host of convenient features that make it a good choice for anyone looking to save time and money on their groceries. It's also a great option for those looking to cut down on their carbon footprint.

Bishop of Brick Meets Click said that Amazon Grocery's focus is on daily food shopping, its affordable price point and its well-curated selection puts it in direct concurrence with traditional supermarkets. "Grocers that don't stand out in one of these categories are the most vulnerable to Amazon Grocery," Bishop added.

In order to encourage more frequent and larger grocery purchases within its Prime membership, Amazon has introduced a range of new perks including unlimited delivery of groceries. This will establish the company as an all-in-one shop for many people's daily needs.

Another way Amazon is attempting to attract customers to its grocery stores is through its merchandising ideas. These include featuring local brands that were successful in its smaller 365 stores like Rockenwagner Bakery and Groundworks Coffee. This lets shoppers enjoy a an authentic experience when they visit the grocery store and builds loyalty.

3. Walmart

Shopping online is becoming increasingly popular due to busy work schedules, family obligations and general dislike of crowds. Click and ship makes everything simpler for everyone, from clothing to office supplies. Now grocery shopping is also part of the party.

Online grocers are booming with many offering convenience, while others offer quality products at reasonable prices. Which one is best for you? To help you choose the most efficient grocery delivery service, we've rounded up the most popular choices.

Instacart is a top online grocery service that connects you to personal shoppers who shop for you at local stores. It is available in thousands of cities, and can be an ideal option for shoppers who prefer the convenience stores of chain stores, but also want to take advantage of discounts at wholesalers such as Costco and Aldi. Instacart provides same-day delivery in a variety of markets, including stores like Food Lion, Kroger and Wegmans. Instacart also provides a service for bulk items that are ideal for those who make frequent trips to the supermarket to stock up on items that are essential.

Walmart is another major name in the world of e-commerce for groceries. You can shop online and pick an appointment for delivery or pickup, and then add your items to an online shopping cart. The site offers rollback deals and offers a wide range of products, from produce to pantry staples and personal care items. The site also offers the Walmart+ service that delivers grocery items and other items from local stores.

Thrive Market is an online grocery store that is a specialist in organic and non-GMO foods. Its membership costs $5 per month, billed annually, and offers many different food items to pick from, such as fish, meat and dairy. Thrive offers free delivery on orders of more than $35, and the menu includes healthy options for both you and the environment.

4. Smith's

Online grocery shopping can be lifesaver for many busy families. These services can allow you to not only cut one weekly chore off your list, but also make plans for meals and budget. Not all online grocery stores provide the same features. If you're looking for convenience, a broad selection of products, or the most affordable price, you must select the right option for your family.

In addition to Smith's many other online grocery stores provide convenient delivery and pick-up options. Some, such as Instacart use personal shoppers who visit local stores to look for your order, and then deliver it to your office or home. Walmart Grocery is one of the many services that allow customers to shop online and then pick up your purchase at the store you have chosen.

Thrive Market is another popular online grocery store that offers a wide range of organic and natural items. These include items for the kitchen, cleaning supplies, and more. In contrast to other grocery stores on the internet Thrive doesn't have a minimum order or flat delivery fee. It also offers free membership which lets you try the service for up to two weeks prior to paying for it.

For customers who rely on government benefits, Smith's offers an online grocery service that accepts EBT and SNAP cards to pick up your groceries at more than 70 stores. To avail this service, simply choose the store's location on your Smith's app then shop and place your order, then select a pickup time and parking spot. Once you arrive you must park in the designated space and dial a number to notify an associate that you are there. The associate will then deliver your order to you in parking lot.

5. Peapod

A pioneer in online grocery shopping, Peapod operates in 24 markets across the US. Customers can order and receive deliveries of pantry items, groceries fresh produce, deli goods, meats, dairy organic and natural food as well as prepared meals, school and office items, personal care products and alcohol at certain markets. Customers can also pick up their purchases at over 200 Peapod pickup points that are located in brick-and-mortar stores owned by Ahold USA like Stop & Shop.

Peapod uses data to track shoppers' favorite brands and products that allow the online grocer to recommend similar items. The system lets shoppers view every item in their shopping cart at once and also apply search filters to narrow down results. Because grocery shopping is a largely routine activity, the Skokie company uses data to predict what products the consumer will buy, pushing those items toward the top of the list.

The drivers, who are referred to as brand ambassadors, play a crucial element of the service. Bienkowski told Food Dive that food is an emotional experience. Being able to interact directly with the person who delivers the food makes it more convenient and pleasant. And Ridgid Bluetooth Enabled Press Tool (vimeo.com) unlike many online deliveries that customers receive, when they meet the driver with their groceries, they can be confident that the order is in good hands.

Peapod as the first to pioneer online grocery shopping, has poured money in technology to ensure that it is able to compete with its competitors. However, Black & Decker Saw Blades [recent post by Vimeo] it hasn't been able to make as significant an impact as other delivery services for groceries, like Instacart and Amazon Fresh. The veteran of 28 years in the battle for online grocery is trying to boost its competitiveness through expanding its e-commerce options. It recently launched a new mobile shopping experience that is based on its proprietary PRISM platform at its own sites, as well as the sites of its parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA.