Instacart is using its technology to help those in need across the United States. According to a press release, the company has expanded the EBT Snap functionality within the application to 10 additional states including Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The latest update allows grocers of all sizes to utilize Instacart’s Carrot Payments, which allows the use of EBT SNAP benefits online. Thanks to the platform, nearly 30 million people that are experiencing food insecurity across the nation will have more access to using their benefits electronically to have their groceries delivered straight to their doorsteps. “At Instacart, our goal is to continue unlocking access to nutritious food for those who need it most. We’ve long advocated to expand online EBT SNAP acceptance, and we’re proud to bring this critical service to people in 10 additional states in partnership with grocers that people know, love and trust,” said...

Instacart is using its latest initiative to amplify emerging Black-owned brands online. A press release reports that the digital grocery platform has announced a new $1 million advertising initiative that will showcase Black-owned consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands within the Instacart marketplace. This will mark Instacart’s first-ever program designed specifically to benefit Black-owned brands on its platform through its robust advertising resources. Through this initiative, Instacart Ads will give its Black-owned brands the opportunity to reach a bigger audience amongst its digital aisles by way of prominent ad placements on the millions of items available through the platform’s 600 plus national, regional, local retailers and brand names. “As our service grows, we believe Instacart has a unique opportunity to further amplify Black-owned and Black-led brand partners in the digital aisles,” Seth Dallaire, Chief Revenue Officer at Instacart, said in a statement. “We want Instacart...

Making deliveries can be a great way to make some extra part-time — or even full-time — income. While you won’t earn the benefits that come with a full-time job, you can make good money and choose your own schedule — vital for those taking care of family or with other jobs. You can find today’s most-popular delivery gigs, such as Amazon Flex, DoorDash, and Instacart, on your smartphone. If you have an insured vehicle, you can get started by downloading one of these apps and completing the job application form. Once accepted, you’ll be able to pick and choose your delivery shifts or pickups just by logging in. And you’ll be able to deliver items to each customer’s door to practice social distancing. Amazon Flex Given Amazon’s status as the world’s largest retailer, there are always Amazon deliveries to make. Through the Amazon Flex app, users sign up for an available shift, head to a local Amazon warehouse to have their cars or trucks loaded, then make deliveries. Flex drivers are...

Next week, Instacart workers are participating in a scheduled set of activities to protest company policies. The food tech giant’s practices related to wages and tips have created angst for many of its contractors. As TechCrunch reports, dissatisfied Instacart workers who were unable to secure a raise in base pay looked to the company to increase their tips. Hopes that the suggested default 5 percent tip could be doubled were also dashed. In response, last month, workers went on a national, three-day strike . They now plan to engage in a nearly weeklong protest to address practices they deem unfair, including compensation and safety issues, with federal and state regulatory bodies. While Instacart declares that it supports its customers , a Washington Post article notes, “ The uprising from Instacart workers demanding fair pay is just one facet of a wider reckoning by regulators, labor activists and workers themselves over the responsibilities of companies to independent contractors .

Delivery drivers and other employees for Instacart and DoorDash have had their fair share of battles for better pay, and now Postmates drivers are rallying for their own cause. Postmates workers are now requesting minimum delivery guarantees, and higher wages after the company recently changed its pay structure, according to TechCrunch. Postmates used to pay workers a base rate per job, plus per-minute wait time rates and per-mile rates. The company also incorporated $4 minimum guarantees for each job that required Postmates to make up the difference for any orders that did not hit the minimum. Now Postmates does not have a minimum guarantee, and workers fear that they will be paid below the minimum wage. “Technological innovations reduced pick up times, and route efficiencies are increasing the rate and pace of deliveries a Postmates can choose to make in a given hour, increasing payout averages from $17/hour in 2018 to $19/hour in 2019,” a Postmates spokesperson told TechCrunch....