Save Mart Embraces Retail Media, Smart Carts with Expanded Instacart Partnership

The Save Mart Companies is building on its partnership with Instacart by implementing several in-store solutions in nearly all 200 Save Mart, FoodMaxx and Lucky locations.

The California-based grocer will roll out Caper Carts, Instacart’s AI-powered smart carts, and FoodStorm, an order management system designed to power the retailer’s food service and catering experiences. Save Mart also will upgrade to Instacart’s Storefront Pro in order to add advertising to its ecommerce storefront.

“Our collaboration with Instacart has significantly expanded our online presence, reinforcing these core values within our local communities,” said Tamara Pattison, Chief Digital Officer at The Save Mart Companies in a statement. “Embracing new revenue streams through Storefront Pro offers us a solid foundation to enhance our business online. By introducing Caper Carts and FoodStorm, we’re allowing customers to access what they love most about shopping online and bringing those elements into our stores. Whether it’s accessing coupons and deals on the carts or easily ordering the ‘farm-to-fork’ foods they know and love, we’re creating seamless experiences for our customers across online and in-store.”

Building the Save Mart Companies’ Omnichannel Portfolio

Instacart and the Save Mart Companies first partnered in 2019 to launch same-day delivery across all of the grocer’s brands. Now the retailer is focused on enriching its omnichannel strategy and experience by implementing the following solutions:

• Caper Carts will roll out at select Save Mart and Lucky stores in the coming months, followed by a broader rollout later in 2024. Caper Carts feature interactive screens that allow consumers to track their spending, gain instant access to coupons and deals and see timely brand ads and messaging. The smart carts also integrate with the Save Mart and Instacart mobile apps, so consumers can easily access and check items off their shopping lists as they’re dropped into the carts.
• FoodStorm, Instacart’s order management system, is designed to help streamline food service, perimeter offerings and catering operations. The solution will be rolled out in all Save Mart and Lucky stores, allowing customers to order items via Caper Carts and receive notifications when their orders are ready.
• Storefront Pro will give all three Save Mart banners access to premium ecommerce features, including customizable homepage and merchandising layouts, self-serve marketing tools, in-depth analytics, a dedicated Instacart support team and third-party integrations such as coupons and loyalty programs. By upgrading to Storefront Pro, the banners also will gain access to Carrot Ads, allowing Save Mart, FoodMaxx and Lucky to create their own retail media networks.