Schnuck Markets is piloting late-night delivery out of a fulfillment site in Ellisville, Missouri, the grocer confirmed Friday to Grocery Dive.
Customers can place orders from the Schnucks or Instacart sites and get groceries after 10 p.m., when the grocer’s local stores close. People can order from the facility from 6 a.m. until midnight, Fox 2 Now reported. The fulfillment site, which was formerly a Straub’s Market location, has home goods, drinks, pre-packaged food, fresh produce and alcohol, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
The pilot “aims to better serve our customers and compete in the marketplace by expanding the hours customers can place orders for delivery and by improving the accuracy of their order,” Schnucks said in the emailed statement, noting the late-night option serves customers’ late-night cravings and essential needs.
Instacart declined to comment on the pilot.
The grocery technology company’s website notes that late-night delivery in Missouri starts at a $2.99 fee and is eligible for free priority delivery. Instacart also offers late-night delivery from Save A Lot, Wegmans, Safeway, Harris Teeter, Costco and Walmart in the state.
The pilot is the latest expansion of Schnucks’ partnership with Instacart. Previously, the grocer has tested Instacart’s Caper Carts and added its electronic shelf label technology chainwide. In 2022, the grocer started offering 30-minute delivery for convenience items in partnership with Instacart.
Instacart rolled out 24/7 delivery service from select retailers in 2021.
