The recent acquisition of SpartanNash by C&S Wholesale Grocers is just the latest in a string of mergers that have reduced the number of wholesaler choices for independent and regional grocery retailers.The thin profit margins in the grocery distribution industry dictate that the acquired companies are often stripped down and fully absorbed into the larger entities. These larger companies might not always be ideally suited for serving all of the acquired company’s small, often family-owned, retail customers ...

Core Insights - Instacart has partnered with Merchants Distributors, LLC (MDI) to provide e-commerce solutions to independent grocers within MDI's network, enabling them to offer same-day delivery and utilize Instacart's Storefront Pro [1][2][3] Company Overview - Instacart is a leading grocery technology company in North America, collaborating with over 1,800 retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery, and pickup services from nearly 100,000 stores [5] - Merchants Distributors, LLC, founded in 1931, is a privately-owned wholesale grocery distributor based in Hickory, NC, supplying over 600 retail food stores across multiple states and exporting to over 30 countries [6][7] Partnership Details - The partnership aims to enhance the shopping experience for customers by allowing independent grocers to adopt Instacart's platform, which includes advanced customization capabilities and access to data analytics tools [2][3] - Storefront Pro will provide MDI's independent retail partners with full-stack fulfillment technologies for pickup and delivery, as well as access to Instacart Carrot Ads for monetizing their digital and physical presence [2][3] Market Positioning - With the introduction of Storefront Pro, MDI's independent retailers will join over 600 retail banners already utilizing Instacart's white-label e-commerce solutions, positioning them to improve customer engagement and unlock new growth opportunities [3]