New online delivery service coming to Dayton for most major grocers

A new online grocery shopping service will launch in Dayton next week.

Instacart will be launching delivery service for its Instacart Express membership program in Dayton through local stores like Whole Foods Market, Costco, Meijer and Kroger. Instacart is an online startup based out of California.

Starting on Thursday, Instacart will be launching its delivery service in the Dayton region — serving areas like Huber Heights, Clayton, Fairborn, Beavercreek, Kettering, Sugarcreek Twp., Centerville, Washington Twp. and Miamisburg.

» RELATED: Meijer adds home delivery services in Dayton, Cincinnati

The service will offer unlimited delivery, where customers can get their groceries delivered to their door within an hour. The services range from $99 annually, or $14.99 per month, and a free full year trial.

Other similar services have already been launched in Dayton. Meijer launched its home delivery services in Cincinnati and Dayton in late April and expanded in Columbus, Dublin and Fairborn in early May.

» RELATED: South Dayton suburbs see grocery competition heat up

Meijer partnered with Shipt, an app and website that offers grocery delivery services. It allows customers the ability to shop for items online or using its mobile app, and then a personal shopper brings the shopping order right to the customers door.

Other grocery retailers like Kroger and Walmart also are offering online shopping and curbside services to meet changing consumer habits.

Kristin Mullins, president and CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association, told the Dayton Daily News that online retailers are getting in the grocery game too. In select cities, Amazon Prime members can shop online for groceries and everyday essentials and have it delivered to their doors with AmazonFresh. Customers pay a monthly $15 fee, in addition to their $99 annual Prime fee.

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“I think Amazon is providing us with some stiff competition in this area, and other traditional online shopping,” Mullins said. “The grocers are really trying to move to more convenient ways to shop. They are trying to think about how consumers want to get their groceries these days, and what’s the best and most effective way for them to get it to them.”

More information can be found at www.instacart.com/express

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