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Instacart launches business-focused service aimed at Black and racialized entrepreneurs

The service aims to be a centralized solution for business owners facing supply chain challenges, staffing shortages, and rising inventory costs.

Instacart launches business-focused service aimed at Black and racialized entrepreneurs
Instacart Business has launched a service to help small business owners keep their shelves stocked with inventory, amid supply chain challenges and staffing shortages. UNSPLASH PHOTO 

Black business owners can now take advantage of InstaCart Business.

The grocery technology company, which operates in Canada and the U.S., has launched a business-focused service that allows companies to access stock and inventory from Costco Business Center, Staples, Restaurant Depot, BJ's Wholesale Club, Gordon Food Service, and more.

The service aims to be a centralized solution for business owners who deal with multiple vendors. It specifically targets those facing supply chain challenges, staffing shortages, and rising inventory costs — plumbers and electricians, boutiques, salons, cafés, daycares, and legal offices.

“For small business owners, every minute and every dollar saved means more time and resources they can invest into running and growing their companies,” Ron Busby Sr., president and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers, said in a statement. “Thanks to Instacart Business, Black-owned businesses will now be able to affordably access the goods and supplies they need to operate their companies.”

One of the businesses that have benefitted from the service is Connie's Chicken and Waffles, a restaurant chain based in Baltimore, Maryland. Co-founder Shawn Parker says the business has saved productivity time, ensuring that its flagship location is stocked regularly.

The company has four locations, three in Maryland and one in Delaware, a statement reads.

“Shopping with Instacart has helped our business tremendously; it saves us hours a day since we no longer need to make runs to multiple stores, and it allows us to keep our out-of-state location easily stocked when we're at our home store in Baltimore,” Parker said in a statement.

“We really appreciate the flexibility; our normal vendors require a few days’ notice and with Instacart we can get same-day delivery or order-in-advance. We are also able to chat with Instacart shoppers in real-time to adjust our order based on the in-store inventory, so we don't run out of critical items.”

Instacart Business is connected to more than 1,100 national, regional, and local retail companies to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in the U.S. and Canada, a statement reads.

To learn more about the service, including signup offers, visit the company’s website.