Uber brings group orders to grocery
- Uber is now offering group orders from grocery stores.
- The company says individuals can add their own items to a shared cart.
- Most grocers will let shoppers split the cart price automatically, Uber says.
Uber in May began the global rollout of group ordering for groceries, a service that builds on existing features that allow groups to order from restaurants.
According to a May 17 post by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber Eats will now let users invite other participants to add items to a shared grocery cart. The user creating the cart will be able to send deadlines for when items must be added to the cart, and Uber says shoppers will be able to split the bill automatically at most stores.
Group members will be able to set up orders on a recurring basis, including being able to set repeat deadlines for group members to add to group grocery orders, Uber says. The delivery company says the service is designed for families or groups of roommates and can even work for a group of people who are vacationing together.
The group ordering feature was announced at Go Get 2023, Uber’s annual product launch event. Uber first launched group ordering for restaurants in 2019, though it paused group orders at restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic and relaunched them last year.
Uber during the past several years has amped up its partnerships with grocers, as delivery companies overall grow their focus from restaurants into other categories, such as grocery and convenience. The company first started offering grocery delivery in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Uber Eats’ recent grocery partners include Meijer, Albertsons, Grocery Outlet, Cardenas Markets, and Kroger, which it recently expanded to offer fresh sushi and floral arrangements.
Competitors like DoorDash have also made investments in the grocery and non-restaurant delivery market. As Retail Leader recently reported, DoorDash posted “outsized growth” in its non-restaurant categories, which include orders from grocery and convenience stores, in the first quarter of 2023. DoorDash grocery partnerships include ones with Aldi, Albertsons, Giant Eagle, Weis Markets, Sprouts Farmers Market, The Raley’s Companies and Southeastern Grocers.