Rite Aid partners with Uber Eats as its strengthens its omnichannel capabilities
Rite Aid is expanding its partnership with Uber Technologies to offer delivery of Rite Aid products nationwide through Uber Eats. This partnership will allow customers to conveniently order and receive essential healthcare and grocery items directly to their homes.
On-demand delivery is now available for 2,185 Rite Aid locations across 17 states on Uber Eats. Customers who wish to order Rite Aid items for delivery simply need to open the Uber Eats app, tap the convenience or pharmacy icons, select Rite Aid, and begin shopping. Within the app, users can access a full catalog of healthcare products and grocery products from their local Rite Aid store.
“Consumer shopping preferences are changing, so we are continuing to evolve our retail business to ensure customers are able to conveniently get what they need to keep their family happy and healthy — whether they visit us in-store or buy online,” said Jim Peters, chief operating officer, Rite Aid. “By adding Uber as a delivery option, we are doubling down on an omnichannel approach that complements the busy lives of our customers. Ensuring convenient access to whole health essentials enables us to live our purpose of helping people achieve whole health for life.”
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Expanding its partnership with Uber Eats as a partner is the latest in the third-party alliances that Rite Aid is forging as it looks to deliver convenience to consumers. Last year, the company began working with Instacart for contactless delivery during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the spring and summer this year, Rite Aid added two delivery agreements — enlisting DoorDash for on-demand delivery in May and rolling out a partnership with Shipt for same-day delivery at more than 2,000 of its stores.
In a call Thursday discussing Rite Aid's second-quarter results, CEO Heyward Donigan highlighted the growth in digital and ominchannel among its shoppers. “Our digital experience remains a core priority for us, and we continue to see significant growth overall in our on demand delivery options, third-party marketplaces, and buy online pick up at store,” she said, noting that the company is working to expand it product pickup capabilities alongside its delivery partnerships. "These channels deliver incremental profitability and now represent nearly 75% of our digital business versus only about a third of our digital business at this time last year,” Donigan said.
Rite Aid has implemented in-store pickup for online purchases at 1,600 stores and plans to have a curbside pickup option available by late October. “We expect these investments to have a continued halo effect across the rest of our business, attracting new customers, driving bigger basket sizes, increasing product availability, enhancing overall consumer experience and improving sales across our chain."
[Read more: Rite Aid unveils new HQ for remote-first workforce]
Uber said the partnership with Rite Aid Rite Aid reinforces its goal to be a single platform to "go anywhere and get anything."
“Convenience is a key component of Uber’s delivery strategy, allowing us to create a seamless delivery experience by ensuring we have the essential stores and products customers need," said Raj Beri, Uber’s global head of grocery and new verticals. "With our partners at Rite Aid, we're thrilled to make shopping for everything from cold medication to cosmetics more 'convenient' than ever."