DoorDash is seizing the on-demand delivery opportunity to increase consumer adoption of its retail products, as pet parents prove to be a digitally engaged and splurge-ready group. There is.
The leading US aggregator on Tuesday (February 27) announced a same-day delivery partnership with Pet Supplies Plus, the largest independent pet retailer in the US, to enable on-demand delivery from the chain's 720 stores. did.
“Since launching our pet category in 2020, DoorDash has made over 400,000 pet products available for on-demand delivery,” Fuad Hanon, DoorDash's vice president of new verticals, said in a statement. . “We are excited to further expand our selection by adding Pet Supplies Plus to our marketplace.”
The aggregator's pet division spans major retailers such as Petco and PetSmart. Competitors are also looking to tap into this lucrative pet supplies e-commerce opportunity. Uber Eats added PetSmart to its platform last year, and Shipt and Instacart also offer services from both Petco and PetSmart.
These efforts to secure consumer spending on pets come as shoppers are found to be willing to splurge on fur babies in ways they wouldn't do on their own. Data from the PYMNTS Intelligence study, “Consumer Inflation Sentiment Report: Consumers Are Saving Money Through Price Reductions,” found that 33% of shoppers are switching to cheaper retailers for personal care products, and 32% are switching to less expensive retailers for snacks. We lowered the grade, but only 19% of them. % of grocery shoppers have switched to cheaper sources for pet food and pet supplies.
Additionally, pet parents tend to be highly digitally involved. Findings from last year's PYMNTS study, “Changing Grocery Shopping Habits and Perceptions,” revealed that only 27% of people purchase pet supplies primarily in stores. This share is much lower than the overall grocery category average of 44%.
In fact, e-commerce channels are increasingly taking market share from brick-and-mortar pet stores. The PYMNTS Intelligence report, “The Replenishment Economy: An In-Depth Look at Household Goods,” based on a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers, found that Chewy pet food and toy subscription programs participating in “Goody Box” Of the 15% of retail subscribers, 53% shopped in stores less often, and 11% of program participants no longer purchased these items in stores.
Additionally, the study found that of the 14% of retail subscribers who subscribe to BarkBox, 43% shop in-store less often and 2% no longer need to shop in-store.
For example, on Tuesday (February 27), direct-to-consumer (D2C) meat and seafood brand ButcherBox announced its expansion into pet food, treats, and supplements with its new ButcherBox for Pet line. Additionally, earlier this month, it was reported that UK eGrocer Ocado has entered pet food, launching “fine meals” for dogs and cats.
Additionally, last year, D2C meal kit giant HelloFresh launched a new dog food subscription, The Pets, that promises “human-grade” meals, as part of the company's drive to become the world's leading “fully integrated food solutions group.”・The table was announced.
DoorDash's new partnership marks the latest move in a growing trend of aggregators taking advantage of the lucrative opportunities presented by digitally active pet parents. As competitors also compete for a share of this market, the shift to on-demand delivery of pet products reflects a broader consumer trend to prioritize spending on pets during economic hardship.
