Instacart Acquires Platform to Aid Small and Independent Grocers
A week removed from its previous acquisition, Instacart has acquired Rosie, an e-commerce platform for local and independent retailers as well as wholesalers.
Founded in Ithaca, N.Y. in 2013, Rosie will allow Instacart to expand its e-commerce offerings for these grocers, including by leveraging private label products. It offers independent grocers affordable and easy-to-use branded e-commerce websites and mobile app capabilities that power order flow, fulfillment, and customer insights.
"Our focus is on creating technology solutions that are tailor-made to meet the online and in-store needs of all grocers - whether they're national chains or independently-owned and operated," said Chris Rogers, Chief Business Officer at Instacart. "Local and independent grocers are so important to the grocery ecosystem. They have loyal customers, create meaningful job opportunities and serve as cornerstones of their communities. The Rosie team understands these grocers better than anyone, and that's why we're proud to welcome them to Instacart. Together, we'll build more technologies that help independent grocers accelerate their pace of innovation so they can continue to compete, grow, and serve their customers however they choose to shop."
Rosie's product features include shoppable weekly ads, store loyalty and rewards programs integrations, third-party fulfillment logistics integrations, payment processing and more. Rosie's turnkey e-commerce solutions get grocers online quickly and efficiently, helping customers easily find and discover local stores.
“For nearly a decade, our team has lived, breathed, and devoted ourselves to the success of local independent grocers and I couldn't be more proud of what we've accomplished together," said Nick Nickitas, Founder and CEO of Rosie. "Instacart's mission of powering the future of grocery is closely aligned with our own, and I'm confident that combining our teams and technologies is the way to best continue serving these important retailers. Together, we will continue to innovate and build easy to use and affordable digital solutions that help our retailer, wholesaler, and brand partners thrive and better meet the needs of their customers."
The Rosie team will lead Instacart's business strategy and technology development for local independent grocers. The delivery platform facilitates online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 75,000 stores across more than 13,000 cities in North America.