Customers can now track EBT SNAP-eligible items, clip digital coupons, earn cash back and sign up for loyalty programs - all directly on the smart trolley

SAN FRANCISCO, September 25, 2025 – Instacart (Nasdaq: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, today announced new savings features for its AI-powered Smart Trollies, enhancing the omnichannel shopping experience. Building on Smart Trolley’s real-time budgeting capabilities, these new updates turn the trolley’s screen into a more powerful savings tool with the introduction of Electronic Benefits Transfer for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT SNAP) item eligibility tracking, on-trolley loyalty sign-up, omnichannel savings and improved product recommendations. Together, these new Caper features make it easier for customers to access savings, maximise their benefits and stay on budget as they shop.

"Smart Trollies are transforming everyday grocery trips into a more affordable, rewarding and personalised experience for customers. With the ability to track EBT SNAP eligibility, access digital coupons and sign up for loyalty programs directly on the trolley, we’re giving customers powerful new ways to save right in the aisle,” said David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart. “Retailers are also seeing how Smart Trollies drive omnichannel purchases, grow basket size and strengthen loyalty. In just the last year, we’ve nearly tripled the number of shops with Smart Trollies spanning nearly 100 cities across 15 states, underscoring the growing demand to bring digital convenience into the grocery aisles.”

Budgeting made easier with real-time EBT SNAP tracking 

Smart Trollies are the first smart carts to offer EBT SNAP tracking directly on the digital screen, helping customers easily see which items are EBT SNAP-eligible as they add items to their trolley. Customers can now track EBT SNAP and non-EBT SNAP running totals simultaneously in real time, reducing surprises at checkout while maximising their benefits. When customers are ready to checkout, they can visit the shop’s checkout area, scan the barcode displayed on the trolley’s screen at the register and finalise their payment with their EBT SNAP card.

Instacart first began accepting EBT SNAP online in 2020 and was the first online grocery platform to offer EBT SNAP acceptance online in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Today, Instacart reaches nearly 98% of EBT SNAP households, offering delivery and pick-up services from more than 30,000 shops. 

Earning rewards and unlocking deals with loyalty program sign-up

Smart Trollies now make it easier than ever for customers to save with Cart Cash, a rewards capability that lets customers earn cash back by clipping exclusive coupons and completing shopping milestones, like making an in-store purchase three times in a month. Customers can then redeem their Cart Cash directly at checkout at the end of their shop. Customers unlock access to Cart Cash by joining a retailer’s loyalty program, which they can now do right on the Smart Trolley’s screen by entering their phone number or scanning a QR code. 

Cart Cash provides retailers with a powerful way to engage customers right at the beginning of their in-store journey, driving higher loyalty program participation and delivering valuable insights into customer behaviour. Retailers are already seeing meaningful results: At one major retailer, 1 in 4 new Caper users are signing up for a shop loyalty program directly on the trolley.* 

Once loyalty accounts are linked, customers gain access to enhanced Smart Trolley features designed to streamline the shopping experience. These features include Buy It Again, which surfaces previously purchased items to help build baskets more efficiently and access to a digital shopping list that allows customers to save coupons and products for later in their trip. 

Powering recommendations, discovery and omnichannel savings from aisle to app

Smart Trollies are helping customers save more and make every grocery trip smarter – whether online or in-store. With new omnichannel savings features, customers can now discover more deals before, during and after their grocery shop.

• Before the trip, customers who opt in will soon receive email and text reminders highlighting promotions and discounts, ensuring they arrive ready to save with Caper. In the future, these same offers will be available via Instacart’s in-store mode. In-store mode is a feature in the Instacart App and in Instacart Storefront-powered apps that transforms the app into an in‑store navigation and discovery companion.
• In the aisles, Smart Trolley’s screen helps customers discover real-time savings and personalised product recommendations. Customers can spot location-based deals based on their proximity to eligible items, along with recommendations based on previously purchased items, popular picks and complementary pairings. 
• After checkout, customers receive special discounts redeemable on the retailer’s Instacart-powered e-commerce site or on the retailer’s Instacart App store, helping customers maximise their budgets even further on future delivery or pick-up purchases.

By delivering savings across every step of the omnichannel journey, Smart Trollies help customers stay on budget and provide retailers with a powerful tool to grow loyalty and acquire new e-commerce customers.

Smart Trollies are available across U.S. and international retailers including Coles, Kroger, Schnucks and Wakefern. The new savings features announced today are available now at select retailers, including McKeever’s and some supermarket banners that are part of the retailer-owned cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. 

Retailer quotes in support of Smart Trolley’s new savings features

“Smart Trollies have made shopping more efficient for our customers, while helping them stay on budget,” said Tim Cosens, Chief Technology Officer at McKeever’s. “With new savings features on Smart Trollies, like EBT SNAP tracking and Cart Cash, we’re excited to continue offering ways for our customers to manage their budgets and maximise benefits as they shop.” 

“When customers shop with Smart Trollies, our Wakefern Members want to provide them with a convenient way to access their EBT SNAP benefits. Smart Trollies offer convenience and discretion, letting customers monitor their running grocery bill as they shop,” said Christopher McCrae, Digital Customer and Loyalty, at Wakefern Food Corp. “We’ve heard first-hand from customers that they love how easy it is to access coupons and shop at their own pace with Smart Trollies. We continue to expand our Smart Trolley footprint across more Wakefern Member shops, as we believe every customer deserves a seamless, personalised shopping experience.” 

About Instacart

Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The company partners with more than 1,800 national, regional and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from nearly 100,000 shops across North America on the Instacart Marketplace. Instacart makes it possible for millions of people to get the groceries they need from the retailers they love, and for approximately 600,000 Instacart shoppers to earn by picking, packing and delivering orders on their own flexible schedule. The Instacart Platform offers retailers a suite of enterprise-grade technology products and services to power their e-commerce experiences, fulfil orders, digitise brick-and-mortar retail, provide advertising services and glean insights. With Instacart Ads, thousands of CPG brands – from category leaders to emerging brands – partner with the company to connect directly with consumers online, right at the point of purchase. With Instacart Health, the company is providing tools to increase nutrition security, make healthy choices easier for consumers and expand the role that food can play in improving health outcomes. For more information, visit https://company.instacart.eu/Maplebear Inc. is the registered corporate name of Instacart.

*includes retailer loyalty program sign ups among new Smart Trolley users from July 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025