DoorDash Set to Acquire Instacart as Early as Thursday
A blockbuster delivery deal could close Thursday morning, valuing Instacart at roughly $17 billion, sources tell CNBC.
The delivery wars just got a whole lot more interesting. DoorDash is moving to acquire Instacart as early as Thursday morning, according to sources who spoke with CNBC. If this closes on schedule, it's one of the biggest consolidation moves the gig-economy delivery space has ever seen.
Rumors have been circulating since last week, and multiple outlets pegged Instacart's acquisition price at around $17 billion. That's a massive valuation for a grocery delivery platform that's been fighting for relevance against Amazon Fresh and a crowded field of competitors. DoorDash clearly sees a strategic fit — and a way to own a bigger slice of the at-home delivery market beyond restaurant food.
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For traders, this is the kind of deal that reshapes an entire sector. DoorDash absorbing Instacart's grocery infrastructure would give it a serious two-front operation — restaurants and groceries — under one roof. That's a direct threat to Uber Eats, Amazon, and anyone else playing in the same space. Watch those stocks closely when markets open.
The timing matters too. Grocery delivery has been a tough business to make profitable, and consolidation was always going to come eventually. DoorDash is betting it can squeeze efficiencies out of Instacart's existing retailer relationships and last-mile logistics network. Whether that bet pays off is the real question investors will be asking.
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