Instacart explores sale in early talks with Uber, DoorDash

Instacart is exploring a possible sale and has held preliminary discussions with potential buyers including Uber and DoorDash, The Information reported on Friday, and its shares closed about 9 percent higher at a market value of about $12 billion.

Why it matters: A sale to either buyer would combine Instacart's grocery marketplace and retailer relationships with one of the two largest United States delivery networks, and either combination would face antitrust scrutiny after Uber's nearly $15 billion agreement in July to buy Delivery Hero.

Data as of October 23, 2026, 17:28 ET: single originating report, The Information, as reported by Reuters on October 23, 2026, citing people familiar with the matter. Instacart declined to comment to Reuters and Uber and DoorDash did not immediately respond; no company has confirmed talks, and the report said there is no guarantee of a deal. Developing item.

Instacart is exploring a possible sale and has held preliminary discussions with potential buyers including Uber and DoorDash, The Information reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Instacart shares closed about 9 percent higher, giving the grocery delivery company a market value of about $12 billion, while Uber closed down nearly 3 percent and DoorDash fell more than 4 percent. Reuters reported that a typical takeover premium of 30 to 40 percent would value Instacart at roughly $16 billion to $17 billion.

The talks revive an earlier attempt: DoorDash held talks to acquire Instacart in 2021, in a deal that would have valued it at between $40 billion and $50 billion, and those talks fell apart in part over whether a combination could win antitrust approval. Discussions are ongoing and there is no guarantee they will lead to a deal.

Instacart explores sale in early talks with Uber, DoorDash

Sources