Grubhub and Mercato, an online marketplace for independent grocery stores, have partnered to bring Mercato’s inventory of more than 950 merchants across the country to the Grubhub Marketplace. Customers can order from hundreds of locations, with all merchants becoming available over the next few weeks.
With this first third-party delivery partnership for Mercato, Grubhub is expanding its marketplace selection and providing greater value for its customers by offering grocery, convenience and alcohol merchants. Mercato’s merchants can grow their business and e-commerce footprint with access to Grubhub’s millions of customers through this partnership.
Mercato’s merchant partners span 38 states and more than 320 cities. Merchants pick and pack individual orders that are then picked up by customers or delivered by Grubhub’s fleet of drivers. Customers can choose from a diverse selection of merchants depending on their needs, including delis, seafood and produce markets, bakeries, butcher shops and natural foods stores, among others.
“Grubhub started as a marketplace for independent restaurants, so it’s only fitting that as we expand into the grocery space it’s first with a partner that works with independent grocers,” said Craig Whitmer, VP of new verticals at Grubhub.
“By joining forces with local grocers, we’re not just delivering for our customers, but we’re delivering for small businesses to help grow their online presence. Our customers can now get more of what they need on Grubhub while Mercato’s merchants gain access and increased visibility among our customers.”
Bobby Brannigan, CEO and founder of Mercato, commented, “This partnership represents a fantastic opportunity for Mercato merchants to reach new customers and grow their business through Grubhub’s extensive customer base. We’ve developed a purposefully-built inventory management and order fulfillment platform for local grocers, seamlessly integrating with over 87 point-of-sale systems, thereby enabling merchants to effectively manage online orders. This collaboration will stimulate increased demand for our merchants, empowering them to capitalize on the efficient system we have developed to operate a profitable e-commerce business.”
To order, customers will select the grocery button within the Grubhub app and on the web where all available merchants will populate. All of Mercato’s merchant supply will be available on Grubhub+, Grubhub’s loyalty program that provides customers access to unlimited $0 delivery on eligible orders.
“Small businesses are the fabric of our communities and the backbone of our economy. In today’s e-commerce landscape, it’s more important than ever for small businesses to have opportunities to grow through digital channels,” said Tom Sullivan, VP of small business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“We are thrilled that Grubhub and Mercato are building on their longstanding commitment to supporting small businesses and providing an innovative platform for merchants to connect with more customers, grow their businesses, and fuel our economy.”
Read more independent store news from The Shelby Report.
