The Friday Checkout is a weekly column providing more insight on the news, rounding up the announcements you may have missed and sharing what’s to come.
Instacart came under fire this week when an investigation by Consumer Reports and Groundwork Collaborative found that grocery prices differed by as much as 23% between customers on the e-commerce platform due to the company’s algorithmic pricing experiments with major grocery partners.
Instacart told Consumer Reports that the testing is “smart rounding” and not unlike retailers’ practices of adjusting prices in stores.
The New York Times’ headline for its coverage of the investigation, though, sums up the consumer perception challenge facing Instacart: “Same Product, Same Store, but on Instacart, Prices Might Differ.”
While consumers are used to dynamic pricing when purchasing items like airline tickets, the necessity of grocery shopping — coupled with the already challenging economic backdrop that has consumers fretting over the cost of food — poses a thorny problem. With online shopping, in which each device is a storefront, consumers can pay different prices and not know it.
As it increasingly goes digital, how can the grocery industry champion affordability efforts while also rolling out pricing initiatives that may lead to some consumers paying more than others?
While Instacart is getting the heat at the moment, it appears to be only a matter of time before retailers also face consumer backlash. In some cases, they already have, such as Kroger for its digital coupons and dynamic pricing via electronic shelf labels. Given how top-of-mind grocery costs are, the industry would be wise to tackle consumer concerns head-on instead of expecting the dust to settle.
In case you missed it
Array of grocery execs joins Simbe’s Client Advisory Board
Executives from several grocery retailers, including BJ’s Wholesale Club, Schnuck Markets and Harmons Grocery, joined Simbe’s inaugural Client Advisory Board to inform product strategy and guide the future of shelf digitization, according to a Wednesday announcement.
The board spans six sectors, including grocery and club, and joins leaders with experience in store operations, technology, supply chain and automation.
Thrive Market readies for Dry January
The online specialty grocer announced on Wednesday the launch of its new non-alcoholic category, which includes over 100 SKUs. Thrive Market noted that searches on its website for non-alcoholic beers, wines and cocktails have continued to climb, especially over the last three months.
Uber expands regional partnerships
The company announced Thursday that Stater Bros. Markets, Kowalski’s Markets and Big Red Liquors have joined its Uber and Uber Eats apps. Adding these food and beverage retailers to the Uber online marketplace expands Uber’s offerings in Southern California, Minnesota and Indiana — the respective home markets for Stater Bros., Kowalski’s and Big Red Liquors.
Uber highlighted in the announcement that it has made significant progress in adding regional grocers to its platform throughout 2025, including Big Y, Rouses and King Kullen.
Impulse find
Local black bear wants Publix’s scraps
Earlier this week, a black bear was spotted dumpster diving near a Publix store in Mobile, Alabama, local news outlet WKRG reported Wednesday.
The video shows the bear scaling the fence surrounding the dumpster before taking off, clearly embarrassed to be caught in search of a midnight snack!
