Revenue in the grocery delivery segment is expected to reach $627.3B this year. With a CAGR (2023-27) of 16.1%, the projected market volume is $1140B by 2027. The average revenue per user (ARPU) in this segment is projected to touch $449 this year and the number of users 1,995M.
Entrepreneurs looking to make inroads into the thriving grocery delivery market will find this blog on grocery delivery apps in San Francisco informative to assist them launch an app.
The grocery delivery market in San Francisco is a rapidly growing driven by factors such as increasing popularity of online shopping, the growing number of working professionals, and the increasing demand for convenience.
Grocery Delivery Apps In San Francisco
Consumers demand convenience, and the delivery industry has delivered as promised. User penetration in the grocery delivery domain is 18.2%. With the rise of smartphones and on-demand services, consumers are turning to grocery delivery apps for their daily essentials and to save time.
Instacart
Founders | Max Mullen, Apoorva Mehta, and Brandon Leonardo. |
Total Funding | $2.9B |
Launched On & Headquartered | 2012 ; San Francisco – California |
Business Model | Revenue is generated through delivery fees, service fees, and markup on the products. It also has a subscription service. |
Instacart is considered to be among the top grocery delivery apps in San Francisco. Instacart partners with various local grocery stores, enabling users to order groceries from their favourite stores and have them delivered to their doorstep.
Instacart offers same-day delivery and has a user-friendly interface. The app allows customisation, including special instructions to be passed on to shoppers.
Entrepreneurs can leverage the Instacart platform by partnering with local grocery stores and offer a seamless shopping experience to customers.
Unique Selling Proposition
- Same-day delivery
- Wide Selection
- Personal Shoppers
- Instacart Express
- Integration with Local Stores
FreshDirect
Founders: | Jason Ackerman, Joe Fedele |
Total Funding: | $280M |
Launched On & Headquartered | 2002 ; New York |
Business Model | It follows just-in-time inventory model, reducing excess inventory and ensuring that products are sourced and stocked based on demand. |
This American online grocery delivery service specialises in delivering fresh meat, seafood, and groceries directly to customer locations. They also provide subscription programs, like DeliveryPass, that allows unlimited free deliveries for a monthly or an annual fee.
FreshDirect grocery delivery focuses on delivering fresh and high-quality products to customers that comprise of a vast selection of organic produce, artisanal products, and prepared meals.
Entrepreneurs can explore partnerships with local farms and food suppliers to provide customers with fresh and locally sourced products through the FreshDirect platform.
Unique Selling Proposition
- Customisation
- Just-in-Time inventory management
- Sustainability initiatives
- Importance towards food safety and quality assurance
- Extensive product selection
Amazon Fresh

Founder | Jeff Bezos |
Total Funding | $8.1B |
Launched On & Headquartered | 2007 ; Seattle – Washington |
Business Model | Subscription Model |
Amazon Fresh provides a vast selection of groceries and delivers them to your doorstep, often with same-day delivery options.
Amazon Fresh is part of the Amazon ecosystem offering grocery delivery services. With a wide range of products, competitive prices, and fast delivery, Amazon Fresh has become a pertinent choice for many.
Entrepreneurs can tap into the vast customer base of Amazon and partner with them to provide grocery delivery services. This opens doors to extensive resources and exposure to a larger audience.
Unique Selling Proposition
- Integration with Amazon Prime
- Fast Delivery
- Whole Foods Integration
- Extensive Product Selection
- Prime Savings
- Delivery Flexibility
- Seamless Online Shopping Experience
- Cross-selling and Upselling
Shipt
Founder | Bill Smith |
Total Funding | $65.2M |
Launched On & Headquartered | 2014 ; Birmingham – Alabama |
Business Model | Membership-based Platform that enables unlimited deliveries. |
This grocery delivery service collaborates with various supermarkets and retailers to provide delivery services.
Shipt is an app-based grocery delivery service that provides same-day delivery from various retailers across San Francisco. Customers can choose their favourite stores and have a personal shopper handpick items.
Entrepreneurs, partnering with Shipt can tap into their existing infrastructure and reach customers who prefer a personalised shopping experience.
Unique Selling Proposition
- Convenient On-Demand Delivery
- Extensive Retailer Network
- Personal Shopper Experience
- Customisation and Special Requests
- Flexibility and Scheduling
- Membership Benefits
- Reliable and Timely Delivery
- Customer Support
Postmates
Founders | Bastian Lehmann, Sam Street, Sean Plaice |
Total Funding | $763M |
Launched On & Headquartered | 2011 ; San Francisco – California |
Business Model | Subscription service called Postmates Unlimited, Gig Economy Workforce |
Postmates offers grocery delivery services in San Francisco apart from food delivery. It collaborates with local grocery stores and delivers groceries to your location.
Although primarily known for its food delivery service, Postmates also delivers grocery in San Francisco. With its vast network of couriers, Postmates delivers groceries from local stores to customer quickly.
As an entrepreneur, you can leverage Postmates’ extensive delivery network and establish partnerships with local grocery stores to provide seamless delivery services to customers.
Unique Selling Proposition
- Versatile Delivery Options
- Delivery from Anywhere
- Real-Time Tracking and Transparency
- Wide Network of Partnerships
- Customised Delivery Experience
- Delivery from Multiple Locations
- Delivery Fee Structure
- Promotions and Discounts
Boxed
Founder | Christopher Cheung |
Total funding | $365.9M |
Launched On & Headquartered | 2013 ; New York |
Business Model | Membership Program called “Boxed Up” |
This online grocery delivery service delivers bulk items, household essentials, and groceries. Generally, Boxed ships orders within one business day through Boxed Express.
Select the same-day delivery option if it’s available. While normal shipping orders could take 3-4 business days. The orders are delivered by carriers like UPS or FedEx.
A Boxed shopper fulfils orders in stores and delivers them. Their prices are pretty competitive and they have an extensive delivery schedule to multiple locations, including San Francisco.
Unique Selling Proposition
- Bulk Buying Convenience
- Wholesale Prices
- Membership Benefits
- Mobile and Web Accessibility
- Private Label Products
- Customer Support
- Personalised Recommendations
Misfits Market
Founder | Abhi Ramesh |
Total Funding | $526.5M |
Launched On & Headquartered | 2018 ; Pennsauken – New Jersey |
Business Model | Subscription-Based Model |
Misfits market provides fresh organic produce, sustainably sourced pantry staples, and other grocery products to your doorstep. And this gives them a standing among the top grocery delivery apps in San Francisco.
Misfits market ensures affordable, high-quality food accessible to the general population and works to reduce food wastage. They also work directly with farmers & food producers to source high-quality meats, seafood, plant-based proteins, organic produce, and dairy products.
Misfits market also source pantry staples, wine, and other groceries that might otherwise be dumped and deliver them to you at up to 40% off grocery store prices.
Unique Selling Proposition
- Reduce Food Waste
- Affordable Organic and Conventional Options
- Customisable Subscription
- Expanded Product Range
- Commitment to Sustainability
- Philanthropic Initiatives
Walmart Grocery
Founders | Sam Walton, Bud Walton |
Total funding | $5B |
Launched On & Headquartered | 1962 ; Bentonville – Arkansas |
Business Model | Variety of products at competitive prices, efficient supply chain management, and sustainability initiatives. |
Founded in 1962 with headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, United States, Walmart grocery delivers grocery to customers. Their professionalism places them among the top grocery delivery apps in San Francisco.
They offer a variety of groceries, including fresh produce, pantry staples, and household items, with convenient delivery options.
You can shop for groceries and household essentials online and opt for grocery pickup. Walmart Grocery will pack your order and have it ready when you arrive.
Unique Selling Proposition
- Everyday Low Prices
- Broad Product Assortment
- Physical Store Network
- E-commerce Integration
- Private Label Brands
- Customer Service
- Global Presence
- One-Stop Shopping

Conclusion: Grocery Delivery Apps In San Francisco
To foray into the grocery delivery industry carefully study the top players and their offerings. By clearly understanding the popular apps like Instacart, FreshDirect, Amazon Fresh, and Postmates, entrepreneurs can decide on the features they can include in their solution.
Focus on customer preferences, local partnerships, and service quality to differentiate your business and succeed in this competitive landscape.
We offer – Grocer, a grocery delivery software, which is a one-stop solution for businesses and entrepreneurs aiming to enter this business. Inspired by the big players – BigBasket , Amazon Pantry, Grofers & Nature’s Basket, our grocery delivery solution is a perfect answer in the delivery domain.

After an Engineering degree and a Diploma in Management I devoted 16+ years working in the automotive industry. My innate skill and extreme passionate in writing, encouraged me to adopt it up as my profession. I have been writing for more than 10+ years in the software industry. The 400+ blogs I published are informative, exhaustive and interesting to a professional and causal reader.