Instacart Adds Publix to Its Miami Delivery Service

For about a year, Instacart has changed the way busy (or lazy) Miamians have shopped at Whole Foods Market, Total Wine, Winn-Dixie, Costco, and Petco by delivering groceries to our doors in about an hour.

Now the delivery service has added South Florida's favorite place in the world to its roster: Publix.

Kevin Murphy, Publix's senior vice president of retail operations, says of the collaboration: “We know this service is something our customers are interested in, and we’re excited to learn more as we move forward with this pilot. We chose Instacart because we believe the experience they provide aligns well with the needs of our company, associates, and customers.”

The on-demand service delivers Publix items seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Right now, Instacart works with Publix locations in Aventura, Coral Gables, Miami, Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, and Surfside to fulfill orders. 

In total, customers in 37 zip codes from South Miami to Hallandale will be serviced. Publix will evaluate the service in what it calls a "pilot" to see if expansion is warranted. To check if you're in the delivery area, type your zip code on Instacart's site. 

Delivery fees start at $3.99 for an order of $35 or more, with a two-hour delivery window. One-hour rush delivery service is also available. All orders must be at least $10. 

There are some restrictions to this seemingly dreamy service. Instacart doesn't accept coupons. Also, it won't deliver alcohol, tobacco products, gift cards, prescriptions, and age-restricted items. 

The good news is that Instacart also works like a concierge service, with a live person doing the shopping. That means that even if you don't see the items you want on the screen, you'll be able to order whatever you like. Translation: Although Publix's fried chicken and subs aren't listed on the site, you can get them delivered to your doorstep without having to change out of your bathrobe.

In case you need more incentive than getting a Publix chicken tenders sub delivered to your door while you're still in your underwear, Instacart is offering $10 off your first Publix order. In addition, first-time customers get free delivery.