U.S. retailers have increasingly relied on last-mile delivery partnerships to improve their fulfillment networks in 2025.

Already among North American leaders in the Top 2000, many retailers have capitalized on their physical stores as key fulfillment assets. Specifically, more of the leading online retailers with physical stores have begun using Instacart, DoorDash and Uber Eats for last-mile delivery. The Top 2000 refers to the largest online retailers in the region based on their annual ecommerce sales and more.

In many cases, individual retailers simply made their stores shoppable through at least one of those last-mile delivery providers’ apps and websites. However, the last-mile delivery companies have also released ecommerce technology offerings of their own.

Meanwhile, some retailers, including Kroger, have partnered with all three. Amid Kroger’s shifting partnership with Ocado Group for the latter’s warehouse technology and fulfillment offerings, the retailer announced expanding relationships with Instacart, DoorDash and Uber Eats.

Kroger said its “hybrid ecommerce offerings” will accelerate its online sales growth. It will use its growing number of stores and its established third-party delivery partners, as well as automated fulfillment facilities. Furthermore, Kroger has agreed to a one-time, $350 million cash payment to Ocado Group as the retailer makes changes to its fulfillment network that impact the U.K.-based technology company.

1. Ecommerce technology from last-mile delivery companies

DoorDash and Instacart each also released apps for OpenAI’s ChatGPT in mid-December.

Instacart launched its ChatGPT app first. That made it the first grocery partner — and the first app overall — to support end-to-end shopping with Instant Checkout inside OpenAI’s ChatGPT, according to dual announcements from the companies. Through Instacart’s ChatGPT app, consumers can build grocery carts and complete checkout directly inside a chat. Instacart’s delivery network then fulfills the orders.

At launch, DoorDash said its new app in ChatGPT let users discover recipes, turn ingredients into shoppable grocery lists and complete purchases through DoorDash’s own app for delivery. Participating retailers include grocery giants such as Kroger and Safeway, along with regional chains including Wegmans, Bi-Rite, Schnucks and Fairway Markets.

Instacart adds in-stock visibility features to please consumers, hoping to help retailers as well

Instacart said it designed its Store View and Second Store Check features to salvage sales, using in-stock inventory data to keep its app users — and retailers — happy.

DoorDash debuts fulfillment services and delivery robot for retailers

CVS and Party City are already using DashMart Fulfillment Services as DoorDash tests its Dot robot in Arizona.

Uber Freight rolls out integrated AI to simplify shipper operations

Although under a different part of the umbrella organization operating Uber Eats, Uber Freight said these updates reflect its broader effort to build a unified logistics platform that integrates transportation management, procurement, and finance into a single system supported by AI.

2. Instacart delivery partnerships with retailers

Instacart and Samsung partner to replenish refrigerators

Samsung’s smart refrigerators have begun using Instacart as they recommend grocery orders to consumers. Their partnership integrates AI and Instacart’s order recommendations into certain models of Samsung refrigerators.

Grocery distributor partners with Instacart

Wholesale grocery provider Merchants Distributors (MDI) is working with Instacart to offer same-day delivery. Through it, participating independent grocers sourcing from MDI will join the Instacart app. In doing so, they will both offer same-day delivery and enable Storefront Pro, Instacart’s ecommerce platform for grocers.

3. DoorDash delivery partnerships with retailers

Home Depot adds delivery options through DoorDash and Uber Eats

Both DoorDash and Uber Eats will handle deliveries from more than 2,000 Home Depot stores. The retailer joins its largest competitor, Lowe’s, on DoorDash, as well as Uber Eats, adding the same-day delivery options.

Ace Hardware offers same-day delivery through DoorDash

The retailer and DoorDash have launched a partnership for on-demand, same-day delivery from local stores across the United States. The partnership puts an Ace Hardware digital storefront on the DoorDash app and website. In doing so, the partnership makes 4,000 locally owned Ace Hardware locations accessible through DoorDash’s ecommerce platform.

Old Navy partnership with DoorDash enables same-day delivery

Old Navy becomes one of the first major apparel retailers on DoorDash, making more than 1,000 stores across the U.S. accessible through the platform.

4. Uber Eats delivery partnerships with retailers

Although Uber Eats has not offered comparable ecommerce technology and fulfillment options to Instacart and DoorDash in 2025, it made several partnerships with leading online retailers. And Uber’s white-label delivery service, Uber Direct, integrated with BloomNet — 1-800-Flowers.com’s floral service network — giving florists access to logistics support and on-demand drivers ahead of Valentine’s Day.

1-800-Flowers.com puts Mother’s Day flowers on Uber Eats

Customers in select markets can order from a curated selection of bouquets and gifts on Uber Eats, selecting on-demand and scheduled delivery. That same week, Uber Eats announced a partnership with Family Dollar to provide delivery.

Best Buy, Dollar Tree announce delivery partnerships with Uber Eats

Best Buy consumers can order deliveries on demand, schedule delivery times and track their deliveries through Uber Eats, according to the companies. Discount retailer Dollar Tree’s partnership with Uber Eats enables consumers to order deliveries from its more than 8,000 physical stores.

Sephora partners with Uber Eats for same-day delivery

The partnership with Uber Eats, live across the U.S. and Canada, “unlocks” immediacy for both new and returning customers, according to Sephora.

DSW offers same-day delivery through Uber Eats

The partnership puts a DSW storefront on the Uber Eats ecommerce platform. It also allows consumers to track the DSW orders they place through Uber Eats in real time.

Aldi joins Uber Eats platform for grocery delivery nationwide

The addition made Aldi “the first retailer on Uber Eats to accept SNAP-EBT payments nationwide from day one,” according to the companies, before SNAP benefits stopped for a period in fall 2025. Aldi operates more than 2,500 locations in the U.S., which Uber Eats said makes the retailer “instantly” one of the largest grocery banners on its platform.

Aldi operates an ecommerce website of its own, as well as one using Instacart technology. Additionally, Aldi also offers a storefront on Instacart’s marketplace.

Hibbett adds its sporting goods to expanding retail presence on Uber Eats

Almost 900 Hibbett stores now have delivery options available through Uber Eats. For Hibbett, the move further builds out its digital strategy since its 2024 acquisition by U.K.-based sportswear giant JD Sports.

Albertsons expands Uber Eats partnership, connecting membership rewards

Already partnering with Uber Eats, the expansion gives all Albertsons loyalty members access to rewards in the Uber One membership program. The announcement made Albertsons the first major grocer to bring Uber One benefits to all its loyalty tiers, according to Uber. In 2017, Albertsons began using Instacart for grocery-delivery services. Then, in 2024, it added Grubhub as another national delivery partner.

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