Instacart has introduced a suite of new features for its AI-powered Caper Carts, designed to enhance the omnichannel grocery shopping experience by making savings more accessible and personalized right in the aisles. Building on its existing real-time budgeting capabilities, the Caper Cart now offers Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) item eligibility tracking directly on its screen. This allows customers to see which items qualify for EBT SNAP benefits and simultaneously track their SNAP and non-SNAP spending in real time, helping reduce surprises at checkout while maximizing their benefits. When ready to pay, shoppers can scan a barcode displayed on the cart at checkout to finalize payment with their EBT card.
Instacart, which pioneered EBT SNAP acceptance for online grocery shopping nationwide in 2020, now supports nearly 98% of EBT SNAP households across more than 30,000 retail locations. The expanded Caper Cart savings features also include on-cart loyalty program enrollment, allowing shoppers to join retailer loyalty schemes by entering their phone number or scanning a QR code directly on the cart. This unlocks access to Cart Cash, a new rewards program offering cash back through clip-able digital coupons and incentives such as repeated store visits. Linked loyalty accounts also enable enhanced experiences like saved digital shopping lists and intelligent product recommendations based on past purchases.
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Beyond the store, Caper Carts support a seamless omnichannel journey by delivering personalized savings and product offers before, during, and after shopping trips. Customers opting in can receive email and text alerts for upcoming promotions and use Instacart’s in-store mode app for navigation and discovery. The cart’s screen surfaces location-based deals and tailored suggestions while shopping, and after checkout, customers receive special discounts redeemable via retailer e-commerce sites or Instacart’s app, maximizing budgeting power across multiple channels.
David McIntosh, Instacart’s Chief Connected Stores Officer, said, “Caper Carts are transforming everyday grocery trips into a more affordable, rewarding, and personalized experience for customers. With the ability to track EBT SNAP eligibility, access digital coupons, and sign up for loyalty programs directly on the cart, we’re giving customers powerful new ways to save right in the aisle.” He also highlighted the rapid adoption of Caper Carts, which have nearly tripled the number of stores spanning close to 100 cities and 15 states in the past year, reflecting rising demand for digital convenience in grocery shopping.
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Retail partners like McKeever’s and Wakefern Food Corp. echo this positive impact. Tim Cosens, CTO at McKeever’s, noted, “Caper Carts have made shopping more efficient for our customers, while helping them stay on budget.” Christopher McCrae from Wakefern added, “Customers love how easy it is to access coupons and shop at their own pace with Caper Carts. We continue expanding their presence across our member stores, as every customer deserves a seamless, personalized shopping experience.”
Currently, Caper Carts are deployed at various retailers including Coles, Kroger, Schnucks, and several Wakefern cooperative supermarkets, showcasing a growing trend of blending in-store and digital shopping to enhance customer savings and loyalty.
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