SAN FRANCISCO and HICKORY, N.C. — Instacart, North America’s leading grocery technology company, today announced a partnership with Merchants Distributors, LLC (MDI), a wholesale grocery distributor, to bring advanced e-commerce capabilities to MDI’s network of independent grocers.
Through the partnership, participating independent grocers supplied by MDI will launch on the Instacart App to offer same-day delivery and adopt Instacart Storefront Pro, the company’s fully customizable, end-to-end e-commerce solution built for grocers.
“We’ve long admired MDI and how, for over 90 years, they have supported independent grocers with essential expertise, infrastructure, and scale, so that they can thrive and grow. It’s a privilege to team up with MDI and their retailers to enhance the guest experience with the adoption of Instacart’s platform,” said Nick Nickitas, General Manager of Independent Grocery and Mid-Market Retail Partnerships at Instacart. “Together we’ll empower leading local grocers to deliver a seamless, flexible way to shop while preserving the local connection that sets them apart in the communities they serve. We’re so proud to partner with a distributor that’s leading the way in digital transformation for independent grocers.”
Mary Kellmanson, Senior Vice President of Marketing at MDI, said the partnership ensures retailers can connect with customers however they shop. “As a wholesaler, it’s important that we equip our retail partners with the ability to connect with customers however they shop. By powering our e-commerce service with Instacart, we’re able to support our independent retailers with a comprehensive solution that gives us the merchandising flexibility we need to help our retailers grow their digital presence and better serve their communities.”
Storefront Pro provides retailers with advanced customization tools, data insights, and fulfillment technologies to support both pickup and delivery. It also unlocks new retail media opportunities through Instacart Carrot Ads, helping independents monetize both their digital and physical presence through a unified retail media network.
With this rollout, MDI’s independent retailers will join more than 600 retail banners across North America now leveraging Instacart’s white-label e-commerce solutions, positioning them to elevate the omnichannel shopping experience while opening new pathways for growth and customer engagement.
To learn more about Instacart Retailer Storefronts, including Storefront Pro, visit: https://www.instacart.com/company/retailer-platform/storefronts.
