Save Mart Expands Instacart Partnership

Instacart and west coast regional grocer Save Mart are expanding their omnichannel partnership with the addition of several new in-store solutions.

Now, shoppers will have access to Instacart’s AI-powered smart carts and FoodStorm, an order management system that powers food service and catering experiences purpose-built for grocery. Save Mart will also upgrade to Instacart's Storefront Pro, bringing e-commerce capabilities with advanced advertising options to its business. This expanded partnership will improve the shopping experience for customers at nearly all 200 Save Mart, FoodMaxx, and Lucky locations.

"We're committed to giving grocers the technology they need to better serve their customers, no matter how they choose to shop," said Chris Rogers, chief business officer at Instacart. "We're proud to partner with The Save Mart Companies on innovative in-store and online solutions that enable them to create a truly omnichannel experience that helps their business grow and makes shopping more unified, engaging, and personalized for their customers."

Save Mart has long partnered with Instacart to enhance its omnichannel strategy. Now, with the debut of Instacart's Caper Carts, FoodStorm, and Storefront Pro, the online and in-store shopping experience for customers is further connected. The Save Mart Companies first partnered with Instacart in 2019 to launch same-day delivery across its banners, and are now deploying a number of technologies to digitize its stores and serve its customers:

"As a seasoned grocer with deep California roots, we're committed to delivering fresh, local, and quality products at affordable prices,” said Tamara Pattison, chief digital officer at The Save Mart Companies. “Our collaboration with Instacart has significantly expanded our online presence, reinforcing these core values within our local communities. By introducing Caper Carts and FoodStorm, we're allowing customers to access what they love most about shopping online and bringing those elements into our stores."

Caper Carts are Instacart's AI-powered smart carts and will roll out at select Save Mart and Lucky stores in the coming months, followed by a broader rollout later this year. Caper Carts offer a personalized experience by featuring an interactive screen that engages customers, tracks spending for budget management, and incorporates a loyalty program for direct access to coupons and deals, and more. 

FoodStorm is Instacart's order management system that helps streamline retailers' food service, perimeter offerings and catering operations. This service will roll out across Save Mart and Lucky stores.

Additionally, by upgrading to Storefront Pro, all three banners within The Save Mart Companies now have access to premium e-commerce features like customizable homepage and merchandising layouts, robust self-serve marketing tools, in-depth analytics, a dedicated Instacart support team, and support for third-party integrations such as coupons and loyalty programs. This upgrade also unlocks access to Carrot Ads, allowing Save Mart, FoodMaxx, and Lucky to create their own retail media networks.